PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

February 16, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

19 Officers Graduate SLCPD Police Academy

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the 19 police recruits of Class 160 took the next step forward in their law enforcement career by graduating from the Salt Lake City Police Academy.

“Becoming a Salt Lake City police officer is more than just being a crime fighter,” said SLCPD Chief Mike Brown. “We are problem solvers, effective communicators, and guardians to every person who lives in, works, or visits our community.”

“I am so grateful for those who serve our city each day, and I’m thrilled to welcome a new recruit class to our outstanding police department,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “So much sacrifice, work, and mental fortitude goes into becoming an officer, and I’m forever thankful for those who choose to serve our capital city.”

As outlined in the SLCPD 2022 Updated Crime Control Plan, filling all sworn positions is a top priority for the department.

For nearly seven months, the SLCPD Training Unit provided the recruit officers with training around legal, reality-based (scenario), defensive tactics, firearms, crisis intervention, and emergency vehicle operations.

The officers now enter the next phase of their training process, known as field training. During this time, the officers are partnered with a Field Training Officer (FTO) and are evaluated on how they perform the day-to-day functions of a patrol officer.

Chief Mike Brown added, “Our academy is challenging and hard for a reason. The training unit provides these women and men with the tools necessary to do a job that is heavily scrutinized but critically important to our community.”

The Salt Lake City Police Academy is a satellite academy that meets the guidelines and criteria set by the Utah Police Officer Standards and Training (POST).

As of February 14, 2023, the SLCPD has 34 vacant sworn positions from its authorized staffing level set by city council.

On January 23, 2023, the SLCPD welcomed 17 recruits who are a part of Class 162. They are anticipated to graduate in July.

Three photos from today’s graduation ceremony are included with this press release.

Anyone interested in applying to be a police officer with the SLCPD should visit:  https://police.slc.gov/joinourteam/.

Applications are being accepted for both new hire and lateral police officers.

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