PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

April 27, 2023

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 copy of the press conference can be viewed or downloaded 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.

“Because of Project Safe Neighborhoods, and the work of our officers, our federal partners and the women and men behind the scenes, we are promoting public safety, enforcing the law, and doing everything we can to help prevent future gun violence,” said Chief Mike Brown. “The work we are doing is paying off. We are fostering trust with our communities, and we are targeting the most violent offenders in our community.”

Chief Brown was joined by Mayor Mendenhall, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Trina A. Higgins, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City District Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Dustin R. Gillespie, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers.

“I’m grateful for our officers, who are working hard to prevent crime where possible, and get dangerous criminals off the streets,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I want our residents to know that our strategies are working, that there is no acceptable level of crime, and that we’re not going to stop doing what it takes to make our City as safe as possible.”

As a result of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program in Salt Lake City, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 295 defendants and law enforcement has seized 343 guns, 63 kilograms of methamphetamine, 11 kilograms of heroin, seven kilograms of cocaine and over $380,000 in cash. The average sentence of those convicted as part of this project is 43 months.

Launched more than two decades ago by the Department of Justice, the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative brings together all levels of law enforcement to identify and address the most serious violent crime threats in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “By working together with the knowledge and resources of both federal and local law enforcement agencies, we improve our ability to combat gun violence and the data shows that we are making our neighborhoods safer.”

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

●       Violent Crime is down 8.8%

●       Property Crime is down 15.7%

●       Overall crime is down 14.9%

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

For more information on SLCPD crime data, click here.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

Photos taken at the press conference are being released. Media may use these photos with proper credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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