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Letter: Investigate Cottonwood Heights Police Department

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Caleb Westenskow, left, and Blake Madsen, both friends of Zane James, who was killed by Cottonwood Heights officers two years ago, hold a portrait of their friend painted by Zane’s father as they gather at City Hall on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, following several days of contentious conflict between numerous groups. Three people stood in support of the police nearby, including a woman holding a long gun.

The information contained in this letter was received through a GRAMA filing with the city of Cottonwood Heights.

The estimated population of Cottonwood Heights in 2019 was 33,843. The city owns or leases 42 retrofitted 2020 vehicles for the Cottonwood Heights Police Department at an annual cost of $1.9 million. The sweeping inventory includes 32 Ford F150s, Chevy 2500XO/LTZs, Chevy Tahoes, Chevy Traverses, Ford Rangers, Honda Accords, Chevy Colorados and Chevy 1500 LTZs.

The city requires retrofitted police vehicles to serve and protect our small beautiful community. Though, the pressing question is why this city, under the questionable and misguided leadership of Chief Robbie Russo, requires 42 retrofitted vehicles for a force that has a listed payroll of 37 employees?

Additionally, why does the city have five vehicles dedicated to administration? The K9 unit for the CHPD has four F150s totaling $182,684. Does a city this size require four vehicles retrofitted for a K9 unit?

The people of Cottonwood Heights deserve and require detailed and honest answers as to why our city is spending almost $2 million to provide 42 2020 vehicles for a police department that obviously does not require a fleet this size.

I am shocked by the amount of money being spent to provide this size fleet to serve and protect a community of our size.

The mayor and City Council are accountable for their actions in approving a budget and creating a local police department that has been allowed to run on its own under misguided and questionable leadership. Now, it is time for them to take action that truly serves the community in a positive manner.

In reviewing this and everything that has happened in our small city over the past few years, it is necessary for the mayor and City Council to immediately suspend Chief Robbie Russo and authorize an outside independent investigation as to the conduct and fiscal management of the CHPD.

Edward Schwartz, Cottonwood Heights

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By Edward Schwartz | The Public Forum