Special Operations
The Special Operations Division provides specialized support to the Patrol Divisions and Precincts, the Investigations Division and the Corrections Bureau. Members of the Special Operations Division are ready to respond with specialized skills, training and equipment to assist with public gatherings, special events, emergencies, crime scenes and natural disasters anywhere in Salt Lake County. The units that make up the Special Operations Division include: the K-9 Unit, SWAT Team, Canyon Patrol, Motorcycle Squad, Search and Rescue, Mounted Posse, Firearms Unit, Training Unit, Reserve Deputy Program, Public Order Unit, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and School Crossing Guards.
Units:
K-9 Unit
The Sheriff's K-9 Unit consists of a Sergeant and four deputy handlers that provide canine support to Patrol, Investigations, and Corrections. The unit is often called upon to assist Federal, State, and other local law enforcement agencies. The deputies and their canine partners work the evening and graveyard shifts in patrol, but are subject to call-out at any time the resource is needed. They search for and apprehend high-risk criminals who have fled from law enforcement and/or concealed themselves to avoid capture. Additionally, the unit can provide dogs for evidence searches and narcotics detection.
The unit also provides canine demonstrations throughout the year for school programs, scout groups, community activities, and special interest groups. These demonstrations provide an excellent opportunity to promote a greater understanding of how and why canines benefit law enforcement and citizens in their efforts to keep our communities safe.
SWAT Team
The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team is highly trained in specialized tactical operations and is deployed in high-risk situations in order to minimize the risk of injury or death to deputies and the public. The primary mission of the SWAT Team is to save lives. The unit is comprised of a Lieutenant Commander, two Sergeants, and 40 Operators. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team membership consists of deputies, officers and paramedics from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Taylorsville Police, and the Unified Fire Authority. Team members are certified in diverse specialties including firearms instruction, explosive breaching, chemical munitions, less lethal force, emergency tactical medicine, and marksmen.
The SWAT Team had its busiest year ever in 2007 conducting or participating in a team record 55 operations including numerous search warrants and callouts. The team also assisted in one urban search and rescue operation. The team logged over 15,000 hours in training and operations.
The team received training in various specialized disciplines throughout the year including hostage rescue techniques, vehicle assaults, warrant service techniques, static and dynamic building clearing, explosive breaching, scouting and intelligence gathering, downed-officer rescues and barricaded suspect scenarios. The SWAT Team also assisted in training other office members in various tactical techniques.
In 2007, in cooperation with the Unified Fire Authority, the SWAT Team began a tactical paramedic program to further enhance the life-saving capabilities of the Team.
Canyon Patrol Unit
Currently, the Canyon Patrol Unit consists of 2 Sergeants and 15 Deputies. The deputies in this unit provide all aspects of law enforcement services within the canyon areas of Salt Lake County, including Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Emigration Canyon, East Canyon, Lambs Canyon, Millcreek Canyon, Butterfield Canyon, and many other mountainous areas. They conduct follow-up investigations for property crimes that occur within these canyons. Even though the canyons are not densely populated, their popularity as a destination for tourists and other visitors makes them a very busy area. The Cottonwood Canyons alone receive an estimated 8 million visitors every year (by contrast, Yellowstone National Park receives an estimated 3 million visitors per year).
The unique canyon environment presents a need for a variety of specialized skills above and beyond what is expected of the average patrol deputy. These Canyon deputies receive training in the use of snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, snow cats, avalanche transceivers, and helicopter operations to name a few. The deputies are equipped to handle a wide variety of emergency and rescue calls. The unit also works collaboratively with the U.S. Forest Service, Unified Fire Authority, the town of Alta, Salt Lake City Division of Water Quality, Utah Department of Transportation Avalanche Forecasters, UDOT road crews, air medical helicopters, Wasatch Powderbird Guides, Wasatch Back-Country Rescue, and the ski patrols of each of the resorts in the area.
The Canyon Patrol’s operations are supplemented by the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team.
Canyon Patrol deputies are also tasked with providing community-oriented policing duties as a part of their assignment. Deputies are the liaisons with ski resorts and all community councils.
Motorcycle Squad
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Motor Squad has a proud tradition of service dating back to 1932. The Motor Squad consists of 12 Deputies and 1 Sergeant. The Sheriff’s Office Motor Squad rides Harley-Davidson motorcycles and serves the public in a wide variety of assignments.
Members of the Motor Squad complete an intensive two-week course to become certified as a Motor Deputy. Following the initial course, deputies continue to train throughout their tenure with the squad. The squad enforces speed and traffic laws throughout the county. They also assist the patrol divisions, support Canyon Patrol, participate in parades, regulate traffic-controlled community and charity events, enforce DUI and seat belt laws, participate in funeral escorts, provide dignitary motorcade escorts and assist in a wide variety of community events.
Search and Rescue
The Canyon Patrol’s Operations are supplemented by the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team and are comprised of a mountain rescue and dive rescue team staffed by 20 to 30 volunteers. These volunteers are trained and equipped to respond to any type of backcountry emergency - day or night, 365 days a year. The team celebrated its 50th year of operation in 2007.
On average, team members contribute 5,000 to 7,000 hours of their own time each year performing rescues and training's in technical rock and ice, high angle snow, emergency medicine, avalanche recovery, and swift water and/or reservoir recovery. Between 1998 and 2007, the team conducted 700 rescue operations in Salt Lake County including lost or fallen hikers, fallen or stranded climbers, drowning in rivers or reservoirs, injured skiers, or avalanche victim recovery. The team operates under the authority of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Canyon Patrol unit.
As a volunteer organization, the team depends on the services of volunteers to operate. Any interested individual capable of donating 200 to 300 hours annually and skilled in technical rock, snow and/or ice climbing, mountaineering, swift water rescue, emergency medicine, and/or backcountry skiing are encouraged to complete and submit the online application available on this website or to contact tskinner@slco.org with questions concerning joining the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team.
As a 501.c3 organization, the team relies on charitable donations to supplement the county and state funding needed to support the day-to-day operational, training, and equipment expenses. Any individual or organization interested in providing financial support to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team is encouraged to contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
Mounted Posse Unit
In existence for more than 47 years, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Mounted Posse is currently a 16-member riding club who belong to the Utah State Western Riding Club Association (USWRCA). Members compete in individual and team events as well as in numerous parade and drill competitions. All members represent the Sheriff's Office in many volunteer services. Last year members donated over 2,000 hours in service to Salt Lake County. During the spring, they hold an open horse show for the youth and help with Wheeler Farm Family Fun Day. In December, they visit an elderly care center, taking Santa Claus along, and bring a small gift for each of the residents. The Posse Members volunteer their time, horses, and services for the opportunity to represent the Sheriff's Office.
Firearms Unit
The Sheriff’s Office Firearms Training Center sits on 40 acres of land in Parley’s Canyon owned and operated by the Sheriff’s Office. It consists of 5 environmentally-safe ranges. The facility has a 3,200 square foot building which consists of classroom, armory, FATS room and offices.
The Firearms unit conducts training in taser, pepper spray, less lethal, pistol training, rifle training and firearms training simulation. In addition to training, the Firearms unit conducts certification and repair of over 2,000 weapons currently in service.
The unit conducts training for Corrections Officers, Protective Service Officers, Deputies, S.W.A.T. and Corrections M-Cert. This training occurs for 12 months of the year allowing for training in all kinds of weather that Utah is famous for.
All Firearms Unit members undergo extensive training in all areas of firearms repair and training, being certified by each weapons manufacturer used by the Sheriff’s Office.
Training Unit
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Training Unit is comprised of Deputy and Corrections Training Staff. The duties and responsibilities of the Training Unit are many. They are responsible for initial certification and in-service training for the entire Sheriff’s Office. In June of 2008, the POST Council of Utah met and approved the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Academy as an official satellite of POST. Academies for Deputies and Corrections Officers are coordinated and managed by the Training Unit. They average thirteen weeks and, depending on staffing levels, there can be three to four academies per year.
The Sheriff’s Office Training Unit is actively involved in the community through service projects which have included:
- Assisting elementary schools (Mountain View, Lincoln and West Kearns)
- The Humanitarian Center
- The Humane Society
- Kearns Recreation Center
- The Special Olympics Torch Run
The Training Unit’s goals are to remain on the cutting edge of training for both certified officers and academy cadets, to represent the Sheriff’s Office with pride and honor, to lead by example and build community relationships that will serve both the citizens of Salt Lake County and the staff of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Reserve Deputy Program
In 2008, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office received funding from the County Council to start a Reserve Deputy Program. Reserve Deputies will be trained to assist full-time deputies with special events, emergencies and the day-to-day delivery of law enforcement services within Salt Lake County. Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s are citizen volunteers who have a strong desire to serve their community and to help make a difference. This program will help to reduce the costs associated with providing law enforcement services to our communities and neighborhoods. Reserve Deputies will receive training in all areas of law enforcement and will be required to complete an extensive field training program prior to being deployed with full-time deputies.
Public Order Unit
In preparation of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Sheriff’s Office formed a Public Order Unit. This unit is comprised of deputies that have received extensive training in all aspects of crowd control and management. They are equipped and trained to respond to civil disorder situations, demonstrations, large public or sporting events or to any type of situation where additional law enforcement resources are needed to help manage a large crowd or major event.
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
Deputy Scott Earl specializes in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Title 49, governing the use of large commercial vehicles on the roadways. As the commercial vehicle inspector for the Sheriff's Office, he gives citations for overweight violations, brake system violations, unqualified drivers, and other safety violations. He is also responsible for the safety inspections and regulation of all tow truck operators, vehicles and equipment that operate within the service areas of the Sheriff’s Office. Strict commercial vehicle enforcement ensures that large trucks moving through our communities and neighborhoods are operating safely.
School Crossing Guards
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division is staffed with 185 regular and substitute crossing guards for 53 area schools in Jordan and Granite School Districts. These schools are located within the unincorporated / township areas of Salt Lake County, as well as in Bluffdale City, Holladay City and Riverton City through a contract agreement with the Sheriff’s Office.
These dedicated men and women brave the various extreme weather conditions to ensure the safety of the children as they cross hazardous roadways going to and from school.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office appreciates these hard-working crossing guards, and we are committed to keeping our children safe.