Cottonwood Heights Decides To Police Itself

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) The residents of Cottonwood Heights will soon see their own police cars patrolling the city's neighborhoods instead of those of the Salt Lake County Sheriff. Last night the Cottonwood Heights City Council voted to rescind their agreement with the county and start their own police department.

Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore says the city will be able to provide unique and specific patrol and detective services. He adds those services were diluted by using the county. The city will share other services, like SWAT teams and K-9 units, with neighboring cities.

Its anticipated total startup costs will be $1.7 million and will come from city coffers. Cullimore expects operating costs of the department to be about $4.2 million. He says that's about the same amount that would have been paid for county services.

Cottonwood Heights will align their 9-1-1 services with the Unified Fire Authority. Cullimore expects to give the required 180 day notice of withdrawal to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office in the next 30 to 60 days and expect to have their department up and running by late July or August.

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