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- Salt Lake police report 33 felony and 49 misdemeanor arrests on Jordan River Trail this month.
- The operation aims to address safety, environmental, and infrastructure issues along the trail.
- Positive feedback and reduced crime reported; patrols to expand to Liberty Park.
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police say an operation to improve public safety along the Jordan River Trail is "outpacing initial expectations."
City officials announced at the beginning of April that the popular trail would be closed indefinitely from Cottonwood Park (near 400 North) to 700 North over "a comprehensive initiative to address environmental degradation, infrastructure challenges and persistent public safety concerns" in the area.
The police department is entering its third week supporting the initiative, with 33 felony arrests, 49 misdemeanor arrests and another 45 citations, police said in a statement Saturday. Those citations were "primarily for drug paraphernalia and trespassing offenses."
"Through our strategic enforcement and close collaboration with city partners and mental health professionals, we are disrupting crime and addressing safety and livability concerns," Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said in a prepared statement. "These early results reflect the hard work and dedication of our officers, detectives, and the city's park rangers. The positive feedback from trail users confirms we're making an impact."
At the beginning of the operation, Salt Lake City Councilwoman Victoria Petro told KSL.com she believed "cartel activity" has infiltrated the area, pushing fentanyl and other drugs. "At this point, this is not a homeless issue," she said. "The chaos caused by the homelessness crisis — the fact that we don't know who is safe to be in our neighborhood and who isn't — has created a kind of a chaotic system that now criminals are exploiting."
Salt Lake police provided a number of "case highlights" showing the effectiveness of the new enforcement measures, including:
- Private company Advantage Services sent a "clean team" out to clean the site of an abandoned camp dear 1700 North, with "two tents and a large amount of property."
- Another man was found camping on the trail at 1060 S. 900 West and was arrested after police found active felony drug warrants.
- Officers were involved in a brief bike pursuit, where a woman with felony warrants tried to escape on her own bicycle and was arrested.
- After stopping a group blocking the sidewalk at North Temple and 800 West, one person was found with "nearly 200 suspected blue M30 fentanyl pills and was booked on felony drug distribution charges."
- Officers also detained nine juveniles after finding a stolen car and said three of them had been listed as missing. One was arrested on felony charges and the others were returned to their parents.
Park rangers "have noticed a significant drop in the amount of drug paraphernalia and garbage found in the area and they have also seen an increase in people visiting the parks along the (Jordan River Trail)," according to the statement.
Starting next week, the Salt Lake police are planning to expand patrols to Liberty Park, while they continue increased enforcement along the Jordan River Trail.
