FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 10, 2025

Media Contact Information

PolicePIO@slc.gov

https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) Celebrates 174 Years of Service

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) is proud to mark and celebrate its 174^th anniversary.

Established on March 10, 1851, SLCPD proudly stands as one of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agencies. Older police departments include Boston Police (1838), New York City Police (1845), and San Francisco Police (1849).

The initial SLCPD force was comprised of 40 men, each earning 25 cents per hour, totaling $2 per day.

Today, the SLCPD has an authorized strength, set by City Council, of 630 sworn members and 149 professional staff. An entry level officer in 2025 earns $33.20 an hour, while a topped-out officer can earn $47.09 an hour.

Early records indicate that by 1892, the SLCPD had 46 full-time officers, which grew to 55 by the end of that year. During that time, the SLCPD was responsible for court bailiff duties, jail services, and mounted patrols, operating on a budget of $59,332.

By 1941, the SLCPD oversaw 53 square miles of the City, managed security for 20 parks, and operated with 147 officers. Today, the City’s footprint has grown to about 111 square miles.

In 1956, the SLCPD’s workforce had grown to 273 employees, including 188 patrol officers—responding to 28,450 calls for service. A fact often not known by community members is that the SLCPD used to operate its own ambulance service. During 1956, the SLCPD managed more than 3,000 ambulance calls.

By 1963, most sworn officers were between the ages of 25-27, most with less than six years of experience.

Throughout its history, the SLCPD has played a pivotal role in public safety and innovation.

Significant moments include the 1858 wage increase to $3 per day to recruit officers, responding to one of the first mass casualty incidents in 1876 after a 40-ton gunpowder explosion, and the tragic loss of Chief Andrew Burt in 1877 during an arrest.

The SLCPD introduced its first official uniform in 1889, implemented call box communication systems in 1892, and contributed to Sergeant Lester Wire’s invention of the electric traffic light in 1912.

In 1990, the SLCPD organized one of the nation’s first “Shop with a Cop” events, now an annual Police Pay It Forward tradition.

As of Monday March 10, 2025:

·         The SLCPD has responded to more than 22,000 calls for service since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD has generated nearly 18,000 proactive calls for service (call “on-view”) since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD has booked nearly 1,500 people into jail since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD has issued more than 1,000 criminal citations since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD has seized 85 firearms since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD has recovered more than 70 stolen vehicles since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD has seized nearly 10,000 suspected fentanyl/opium pills since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD Crime Lab has responded to more than 760 field calls and completed 120 lab requests since January 1, 2025.

·         The SLCPD Evidence Unit has received nearly 6,300 property items and has disposed of nearly 6,800 items, pursuant to its policies and procedures since January 1, 2025.

·         The Community Connection Team (CCT) works to enhance public safety, crisis intervention, and emergency services diversion by leveraging social services, mental health support, and targeted outreach has had more than 800 community contacts since January 1, 2025.

·         The CCT has also provided direct services or service provider referrals nearly 600 times since January 1, 2025.

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