Every 23 seconds a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States, making auto theft the number one property crime in the nation. The Sheriff's Office Auto Theft Unit investigates these thefts, along with vehicle burglaries and all vandalism cases.

     Aside from traditional methods of investigation, the Auto Theft Detectives have incorporated a "bait" car system and miniature tracking transmitters installed in commonly stolen property into their operations.

     Because of the efforts of this unit, auto thefts in Salt Lake County have decreased significantly over the past 2 years. We continue to proactively pursue theft in an effort to continue the decrease in this type of crime.

     The White Collar Crime Unit investigates cases that encompass a broad spectrum of investigations classified as fraud. Fraud includes forgery, embezzlement, extortion, financial transaction card offenses, and computer-related crimes.

     Investigators from the White Collar Crime Unit attend in-depth training sponsored by the Investigation Training Institute each year. This training consists of comprehensive courses aimed at detecting fraud, gathering evidence, and tracing illegal proceeds. They also atten training sponsored by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. This association, a non-profit international organization, is dedicated to the free exchange of information among credit issuers and financial investigators, assisting both groups in combating the current trends of growth and sophistication which is prevalent in modern financial crime.

     During 1999, the Unit sponsored and directed the Wasatch Front Check Investigators' Association. This group of investigative professionals from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as industry fraud investigators, meets monthly in a cooperative effort to solve and prevent fraudulent activity throughout northern Utah.

     The Neighborhood Narcotics Unit works in conjunction with other deputies that are assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration/Metro Narcotics Task Force and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

     The Sheriff's Office drug squad serves all communities in the unincorporated county as well as without contract cities. They also work in cooperation with outh agencies' narcotics units to prevent duplication of investigations.

     The concept behind the formation of the Neighborhood Drug Unit is to target and eradicate street level to mid-range dealers from local communities.

     They work closely with the three patrol diviison and their respective Community Oriented Policing (COP) units. In this capacity the Neighborhood Unite provides equipment such as undercover vehicles and other technical devices to assist the COP Officers. They also provide expertise in such areas as writing search warrants, doing controlled buys with confidential informants, and formulating viable raid plans. They have a single-purpose police canine, certified as a Narcotics Detector Dog, to assist in drug investigations.

     The Neighborhood Unit also provides staffing to assist COP Officers in the successful completion of drug raids that rid the community of dangerous criminals and make neighborhoods safer for citizens.

     The Major Felony Unit was established in 1989 in conjunction with the District Attorney's Office and provides investigative and legal guidance along with technical support. United States Customs provides federal jurisdiction on cases that lead outside of Salt Lake County, as well as additional federal funding.

     Original funding for the unit came from a federal grant award from the Utah Commision on Crime and Juvenile Justice (UCCJJ). The idea behind the program was to open a new front inthe war against drugs, changing the focus from street-level drug distribution to top-level narcotics trafficking. This approach includes 3 drug prongs: 1) identify those responsible at the highest level of the drug distribution organization; 2) gather enough evidence to charge those responsible with appropriate crimes to ensure lengthy prison sentences; and 3) seize and cause the forfeiture of all assets gained by the illegal activity.

     Each of the many cases completed by the Unit resulted in the identification and dismantling of large-scale drug organizations. Their philosophy includes tracing the origin of the narcotics to the out-of-state sources and charging those at that end as well. This approach ensures that a local distributor will not be replaced by the source, effectively stopping all trafficking associated with the target organization.

     The average jail sentence for a drug kingpin, prosecuted as a result of a Major Felony Unit investigation, has been 10 years of federal minimum mandatory time. This contrasts sharply with the average of 3 days time served for local drug arrests. The benefit to the community is that those responsible at the highest level receive the severest treatment and are kept off the street.

     During 1999, the Major Felony Unit has permanently broken up several major narcotics distribution organizations operating out of Salt Lake County. These cases netted over $199,000 in asset forfeitures, 25 federal indictments and 50 state charges. These organizations were responsible for the importation of a combined total of 56 pounds of marijuana, 33.5 pounds of methamphetamin, 35 pounds of cocaine and 22 ounces of black tar heroin. The value of these drugs would exceed 1 million dollars at the wholesale level and several million on the street.

     The Major Felony Unit also provides assistance to other investigative squads in the Sheriff's Office as well as outside agencies. We continue to receive requests for technical support and aside from drug cases, have assisted on seveal homicide investigations, a kidnapping case, and the location of several escapees.

     Burglary and Theft (residential & business) remain the most frequent property crimes. Each year the Burglary Unit handles thousands of incident reports. Despite this high volume, each case requires careful review in identifying potential leads and investigative information. As a result, case management decisions have to be made in order to determine the best use of manpower.

     In 1999, investigators were assigned 2,644 cases resulting in 8,871 follow-up reports related to these initial assignments. Detectives' investigative efforts resulted in clearing 798 cases, which included 486 arrests. The recovery of lost and stolen property netted $578,141.

     Burglary is a serious offense. A property owner who has someone unknown to them enter their home and go through personal and private possessions can suffer emotional trauma and long-lasting effects.

     Detectives are sensitive to the needs of our community and efforts are continually made to solicit more help from them to reduce crime and keep our neighborhoods safe.

     The Warrants/Fugitive Unit is responsible for arranging the extradition of prisoners from the State of Utah back to their home states, where there are existing charges. This involves sensitive material along with court documents and Governor's Warrants, which are needed to facilitate these transfers.

     Another detective is assigned the responsibility of signing 98% of the "informations" generated by different patrol divisions and investigative unit within the Sheriff's Office. During 1999, this detective was responsible for over 6,300 cases files and warrants signed with the District Attorney's Office and the Third District Court.

     Investigators are responsible for the apprehension and arrest of suspects wanted by the Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies within the county. The unit handles an average of 4,000 felony warrants at any one time, having 2,840 new warrants assigned to it in 1999 with 1,387 of them cleared by arrest. These investigators also transport prisoners arrested in other jurisdictions throughout the state back to our jail, as well as fugitives wanted by other states who live in Utah. There is one additional warrant investigator assigned to the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.

     The Warrants Unit also investigates escapes from our jail. There were only two escapees in 1999, both occurring while enroute to court. These escapees were both apprehended within a short time.

     At the end of 1999 the Unit added a U.S. Deputy Marshal to its squad to assist in the hunt for fugitives. This cooperative effort facilitates the arrest of individuals wanted on both local and federal charges.

     The responsibility of the Vice/Licensing Unit of the Sheriff's Office is to detect and apprehend all violators of vice-related laws and ordinances.

     This includes the investigation of prostitution, escort services, and private dancers. Besides the obvious prostitution arrests, the unit also sets up periodic "John Stings" where they arrest the prositution patrons as well. They also license and inspect all sexually oriented businesses located in Salt Lake County. This encompasses escort services, out-call services, and male and female dancers.

     Additionally, they investigate the distribution of pornography, complaints relating to its possession and display, and gambling cases.

     A major part of the Vice Unit's responsibility is the inspection and monitoring of all taverns, bars, and private clubs located in the County. They may frequent visits to these establishments ensuring compliance with all state laws and county ordinances. They also have the special function to review and make recommendations of the County Commission for licensing of these clubs.

     The Vice/Licensing Unit also checks the background of all massage technicians, taxi drivers, and employees of businesses where alcohol is served. They license these individuals as well. They also issue identification cards for every Sheriff's Office employee and many other county departments and divisions.