FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 19, 2025

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PolicePIO@slc.gov

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SLCPD Provides Update on Crime Disruption, Safety Efforts Along Jordan River Trail

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) is making progress in improving public safety along the Jordan River Trail (JRT) through a coordinated and ongoing effort aimed at disrupting criminal activity and supporting the city’s broader restoration and revitalization work.

Following the recent closure of a portion of the Jordan River Trail for critical improvements, restoration, and public safety enhancements, the SLCPD launched a strategic enforcement effort.

The operation began on Thursday, April 3, 2025, and is now entering its third week with results outpacing initial expectations.

Since the start of the operation, the SLCPD has made:

• 33 felony arrests.
• 49 misdemeanor arrests.
• 45 citations – primarily for drug paraphernalia and trespassing offenses.

“We are committed to restoring the Jordan River Trail as a safe and welcoming public space,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd. “Through our strategic enforcement and close collaboration with city partners and mental health professionals, we are disrupting crime and addressing safety and livability concerns. These early results reflect the hard work and dedication of our officers, detectives, and the city’s Park Rangers. The positive feedback from trail users confirms we’re making an impact.”

The SLCPD’s Community Impact Division (CID) is leading the operation with bike and foot patrols which are focused on enforcement, outreach, and environmental cleanup in partnership with Salt Lake City’s Department of Public Lands’ Park Rangers and Advantage Services, a private company that has a “Clean Team” dedicated to helping restore cleanliness to public areas.

The Salt Lake City Park Rangers have been giving the area extra attention and will continue to do so throughout the closure. The rangers have noticed a significant drop in the amount of drug paraphernalia and garbage found in the area and they have also seen an increase in people visiting the parks along the JRT. Rangers are available to give updated information about the closure and detour, as well as engage with the community about any issues they are seeing.

Recent case highlights include:

• A man illegally camping on the trail at 1060 South 900 West provided false information to officers. He was later identified and arrested on active felony drug warrants and new charges for providing false information.
• Officers found an abandoned camp with two tents and a large amount of property near 1700 North. Advantage Services responded to clean the site.
• After a brief bike pursuit, officers arrested a woman with felony warrants who attempted to get away while riding her bicycle. Video from the bike pursuit can be downloaded by clicking here. Note: There is no audio with the clips released because of the prerecord feature on SLCPD’s body-worn cameras.
• Officers stopped a group blocking the sidewalk at North Temple and 800 West. One person was found hiding nearly 200 suspected blue M30 fentanyl pills and was booked on felony drug distribution charges.
• Officers found an occupied stolen car on North Temple Street. In total, officers detained nine juveniles. Three of them were listed as missing. Officers booked one of the juveniles into the juvenile detention center on felony-related charges. The remaining were returned to their parents or guardians.
• Officers attended opening day for Rose Park Baseball.

“Residents and trail users are stopping our officers and the park rangers to express their thanks,” Chief Redd added. “While we’re seeing progress, we know lasting change will require a consistent, long-term commitment. This is not a one-time fix or a police-only solution. It will take our entire city and community working together. The SLCPD is committed to staying flexible and quickly responsive, especially when it comes to targeting those involved in crime and behavior that harms our community.”

“As we restore these areas, we will look to the city and our neighbors to help activate these public spaces. These improvements will take time, but with a steady focus and strong collaboration we will get there,” Chief Redd said.

Beginning next week, the SLCPD will expand its enhanced patrols to Liberty Park while maintaining proactive foot and bike patrols—and continuing increased patrol enforcement—on and around the Jordan River Trail to help ensure sustained public safety.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is coordinating long-term planning for public safety with the Mayor’s Office, other city departments, and state agencies to include the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Natural Resources. We thank them for their contributions and partnership.

We encourage community members to stay engaged by calling 801-799-3000 for non-emergency concerns and to use 9-1-1 for emergencies in progress.

A photo of some of the suspected fentanyl pills seized are being released. Media may use this photo with credit to the SLCPD.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The information contained in this news release is based on a preliminary review of the details available to the Salt Lake City Police Department. As the investigation progresses, information may change.

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