PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

December 1, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Chief Mike Brown Provides Update on Project Safe Neighborhoods, Releases Crime Data 

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown joined Mayor Erin Mendenhall and federal law enforcement partners to provide an update on the “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program in Salt Lake City.

A video copy of the press conference can be obtained by clicking here.

The “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program is a nationwide initiative bringing together law enforcement, prosecutors, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

“Our response plan to violent crime continues to be laser focused,” said Chief Mike Brown. “We are directing our limited resources on the people causing the most harm in our community. Because of the hard work of our police officers, our federal partners and data and research teams, we are developing straightforward responses to violent crime.”

Chief Brown was joined by Mayor Mendenhall, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Trina A. Higgins, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bradley J. Engelbert of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Salt Lake City Field Office Dennis Rice.

“Our strategies to fight crime are working. Nearly 300 violent criminals are behind bars because of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. “But we’re not done. No criminal activity will be tolerated in Salt Lake City and we will continue to root out criminals wherever they may try to hide.”

As a result of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program in Salt Lake City, as of October 27, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 260 defendants and law enforcement has seized 51 kilograms of methamphetamine, 306 guns, and more than $320,000 in cash. The average sentence of those convicted as part of this project is 40 months. The Project Safe Neighborhoods program in SLC started about two years ago.

“At a time when nationally, cities are facing high double-digit increases in violent crime, unfortunately some cities are experiencing triple digits in homicides, Salt Lake City is seeing a decrease in violent crime,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bradley Engelbert. “This community is safer because of what the individuals who are engaged in this project are doing.”

Chief Brown also released the latest year-to-date citywide crime data that shows:

●        Violent crime is down 2.9%

●        Property crime is down 9.4%

●        Overall crime is down 8.7%

For more information on the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, click here.

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