Cities whose police departments conduct their own criminal investigations, yet pay the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office for investigative services they do not receive, need an out from this long-standing practice.
Presently, mayors, city managers, the Salt Lake County commissioners and Sheriff Aaron Kennard are negotiating over what cities pay to the county for the Sheriff Office's $22 million investigative services budget, which the cities contend they have been overpaying for years. The practice appears to smack of double taxation and the parties should be commended for attempting to come up with a negotiated settlement. That said, it also makes a strong argument for countywide consolidation of law enforcement services.
Currently, more than a dozen police agencies operate within Salt Lake County. Each has its own chief, administration and operational standards. Consolidating the police departments into one countywide department would not only save money but streamline services.
Arguably, there's nothing stopping law enforcement agencies from now sitting down occasionally and comparing information about ongoing investigations. But that doesn't address the issues of turf protection or rivalries that can develop among various police departments. While this page believes the vast majority law enforcement officers view serving the public as their primary mission, a few are motivated by ego and a sense of competition.
Police departments will argue that residents of their respective cities want law enforcement handled by officers who identify with the community and are known to city residents.
While that might give some people a warm and fuzzy feeling, the reality is that when a crime occurs, people want a law enforcement agency to respond quickly and perform professionally, regardless of the agency name that appears on their uniforms or their vehicles.
Fortunately, when most people call the police it is not for a dire emergency. And most people understand that a theft from a backyard tool shed requires a different standard of response than bank robbery. If everyone is on the same team and doesn't have to be concerned with jurisdictional issues, doesn't it make sense that more crimes could be solved if officers could concentrate solely on law enforcement?
Hammering out a solution to the investigative services issues is, indeed, a good step. But it only addresses a symptom of a much larger issue. Doubtless, it supports the consolidation argument.