PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

July 18, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

21 Officers Graduate SLCPD Police Academy

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, 21 Salt Lake City police cadets from Academy Class 169 took the next step in their law enforcement career by graduating from the Salt Lake City Police Department’s training academy.

“No matter your career path, you have vowed to be guided by what is right, what is just, and what is needed, even in the face of unpopularity”, said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “Your accomplishments over your career will help make Salt Lake City a safer place for everyone. There are more than 200,000 community members who are counting on you and who support you.”

“We trust you to represent all of us as you serve our community with strength, compassion, kindness, and courage,” said Salt Lake City Chief Administrative Officer Jill Remington Love. “It is you and your fellow officers who help our entire community feel safe – who help us live our lives to the fullest. Every single day you will have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life and make a difference in our community.”

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

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

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

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

As of July 18, 2024, the SLCPD has 18 vacant sworn positions from its authorized staffing level set by city council.

The SLCPD has hired 47 people for police officer positions in 2024.

On Monday, May 13, 2024, the SLCPD welcomed 14 recruits who are a part of Class 171. They are anticipated to graduate in November.

Four photos from today’s graduation ceremony are included with this news release. Media can use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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

Applications are being accepted for both new hire and lateral police officers. New lateral police officers will receive an $8,500 hiring bonus.

Photo: A Salt Lake City training cadet sits with his academy class at Judge Memorial Catholic High School just prior to being sworn in as a police officer (SLCPD photo – July 18, 2024).

Photo: Salt Lake City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Jill Remington Love, looks back at police cadets at Judge Memorial Catholic High School as she delivers the city’s keynote speech during the graduation of 21 police trainees (SLCPD photo – July 18, 2024).

Photo: The Salt Lake City Police Department displayed 21 police badges that were later pinned onto newly sworn in police officers as part of Recruit Class 169’s graduation ceremony held at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah (SLCPD photo – July 18, 2024).

Photo: Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown speaking at Judge Memorial Catholic High School during the graduation of 21 police trainees (SLCPD photo – July 18, 2024).

Photo: Members of the Salt Lake City Police Department’s 169^th training academy sat in rows at Judge Memorial Catholic High School during their graduation ceremony (SLCPD photo – July 18, 2024).

Photo: Several police cadets with the Salt Lake City Police Department 169^th training academy are sworn in as police officers at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah (SLCPD photo – July 18, 2024).

Information About the Salt Lake City Police Department

Established in 1851, just four years after the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, the Salt Lake City Police Department served to maintain law and order in the rapidly growing frontier community.

Today, the Salt Lake City Police Department embraces technological advancements, data-driven strategies, focuses on strengthening community outreach to enhance its operational capabilities, and is guided by four pillars: lowering violent crime, improving response times, filling all vacant sworn positions, and increasing community outreach.

The Salt Lake City Police Department utilizes several special squads and programs to address community-specific needs and challenges. The department prioritizes training in areas such as crisis intervention, de-escalation, and cultural competency to help ensure officers are well-prepared to serve our city’s diverse and dynamic population.

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