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The Sheriff’s Protective Service division is responsible for providing security and a full law enforcement presence at various County and State facilities. Our division consists of over 110 sworn officers capable of conducting investigations, searches, making arrests, and utilizing necessary force to ensure the public peace and safety is maintained. Our duty assignments include, but are not exclusive to, Matheson Courthouse, West Jordan Courthouse, Salt Lake County Justice Court, Salt Lake County Government Center, Salt Lake County Art Facilities, Clark Planetarium, Youth Services, Criminal Justice Services, and Public Works. In addition, officers routinely patrol and check upon the County’s libraries, senior centers, recreation centers and other various County buildings.
Because two of our three court buildings are the largest courthouses in the state of Utah (Matheson Courthouse, which contains Utah’s Supreme Court and the West Jordan Courthouse), the majority of our officers are stationed at these locations. To accomplish our law enforcement responsibilities, our court unit is split into two teams, security and bailiff. Security’s duties include (1) Door Security: ensuring incoming personal are weapon and hazard free by utilizing x-ray machines, security wands, and physical searches as necessary; (2) Ramp Security: visually and physically inspect incoming vehicles to ascertain they do not carry any material that could pose a threat to the court and its personnel; (3) Holding: take responsibility and control of incoming prisoners from outside correctional institutions and ensure they are directed to their proper courtroom hearing; (4) Control: command and control of the entire building, including monitoring the building’s surveillance system, operation of the building entrance and exit points, and managing radio traffic from all the building’s officers. In addition to the aforementioned, officers also conduct period exterior patrols of the court and surrounding court vicinity. Like our security unit, bailiffs are also charged with safety and security. However, their duty is primarily focused inside the courtroom itself.
Our bailiffs are charged with security inside the courtroom. Daily they review court intelligence reports to prepare them for any elevated security threats, aggressive incoming prisoners, and/or high publicity trials. They take and maintain control of any incoming prisoners and monitor the public. Their presence is a major deterrent to any potential criminal activity and malicious action inside the courtroom. In addition, each bailiff has been selected by his or her respective judge. This gives our officers the advantage of having a workable relationship with the directors of the court, which enables them to direct security as they see fit. The above describes our court officer positions. However in addition to the courts, we have a second unit named Facilities that also maintains a law enforcement presence throughout a variety of areas in the County.
Matheson Courthouse
West Jordan Courthouse
Salt Lake County Justice Court
The Facility side of Protective Services provides one to two officers at a variety of county buildings. These include, County Government Center, Abravanel Hall, Capital Theater, Clark Planetarium, and Rose Wagner Theater. Officers, just like the court personnel, maintain a full law enforcement presence at these buildings. They interact with the employed staff and patrons to ensure a safe and peaceful environment is maintain at a variety of events including: Election Day voting, County Council meetings, political party meetings (which have included everyone from our Mayor, Governor, Legislative Representatives, and members of Presidential staff, etc), academic forms, Utah Symphony, Ballet West, Broadway performances, Miss Utah Pageant, celebrity comedic acts, and so on. Because of the variety of events at our venues, our officers are adept at providing a safe, secure, and enjoyable environment for our patrons and to an ever changing staff of high end entertainers and VIPs.
In addition to the art and political events, Protective Services is also responsible for Public Works, Criminal Justice Services, Youth Services and a roving patrol position. At Public Works, we assume the duel roll of being the afterhour’s dispatcher and security officer of the facility. The Criminal Justice Services building and Youth Services call upon our officer to ensure a level of respect and order is maintained between our staff and clients while they conduct their counseling and meetings. Lastly, Protective Services periodically patrols the County’s libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, golf courses, and other building’s to ensure they are secure and free of vandalism and/or criminal activity.
The Sheriff’s Protective Service Division is a dynamic law enforcement unit that covers an array of areas and responsibilities, while ensuring that operations are not disrupted and government/private assets are protected. It is our honor to serve the community and our clients. We encourage members of the public to reach out to our division and let us know how we may better serve you. Protective Services is also very interested in expanding its role in the community to include new government and private building contracts. If you are interested please contact Captain Herlin at 801-468-2126.