Community Outreach
Bike Rodeos
The Salt Lake Police Department hold Bike Rodeos at various events to bring attention to bike safety for kids. By going through a fun and exciting bike course kids are encouraged to learn about traffic rules. Bikes and helmets are provided but children are welcome to bring their own bike and helmet.
Find additional information about Bike Rodeoshere.
Book Drives
Every year two elementary schools are visited by the Chief and other officers to read books to the students. Throughout the year, books are gathered at various book drives and these are also donated to the two schools while the officers are there.
Coffee with a Cop
Coffee with a Cop is an opportunity for the public to meet with officers in a comfortable environment and talk about any subject — from crime trends to neighborhood nuisance issues, public safety management to how to join our team. You bring the questions, talk with an officer, and you get a free cup of coffee. Find future locations and dates here.
Community Academy
The Salt Lake City Police Department hosts a Community Academy twice a year for residents who want to become more acquainted with how the police department functions. During the Academy, citizens will receive training in varied aspects of law enforcement, including the basics of patrol tactics, defensive tactics, firearms and many other subjects. "Cadets" will meet and talk with many of the members of the department. These courses will take place in a safe and entertaining training environment.
Academy instructors are all law enforcement professionals, who teach both veteran and recruit police officers. Participants will obtain a deeper understanding of the Police Department's function with an increased awareness of community partnership opportunities.
To attend, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and live or work in Salt Lake City proper. For more information, please call (801) 799-3367 or visit www.police.slc.gov/community-academy/..
Halloween FunFest
A free Halloween FunFest is held at the Public Safety Building, 475 S. 300 E. annually on the Friday before Halloween. Free and open to the public, there are lots of trick-or-treating and activities for kids. There are also booths for families to visit with and meet police officers, firefighters, and a variety of other city departments and partners.
National Night Out Against Crime
Night Out Against Crime is an annual event designed to increase public awareness of crime prevention, build bridges between law enforcement and the community and send the message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime.
National Night Out Against Crime resources can be found here.
Police Pay it Forward
Police Pay It Forward is a program that rewards children ages 6-12 with the opportunity to partner with a police officer to shop for holiday gifts in December, and school items in August. We work with the Utah Department of Child and Family Services, the Salt Lake City School District, and the International Refugee Center to identify children who are in need and would benefit from a positive interaction with a police officer. Funds for the program are collected through donations from internal personnel and external organizations.
The First Tee Utah
The First Tee program encourages youth to work with officers in building their golf and life skills. The program brings youth participants together every Tuesday for 10 weeks to learn how to golf from some of the best in the area. They also have the opportunity to be mentored by golf pros and law enforcement with innovative ways teach how young people can find success in sport and in life.
Each golf lesson keys in on one of nine core values which include: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.