Feb. 3, 2025
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On January 16, 2025, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall released a strategic Public Safety Plan, which outlined 27 city-based action items and 23 recommendations for state, county, and other partners, all aimed at crime reduction and addressing gaps across criminal justice and homeless services systems.
As part of the plan, Mayor Mendenhall committed to regular reporting of progress to hold the city and external partners in the systems accountable. Salt Lake City is currently building a public-facing dashboard to track data points outlined in the Public Safety Plan and other metrics critical to addressing broader public safety efforts.
“We clearly identified actions to improve public safety, and we’re taking them,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I’m grateful to our officers and social workers who are helping enhance public safety at high-need areas around the Jordan River Trail, Ballpark neighborhood, and downtown core to ensure they’re safe and welcoming to all.”
Two weeks after the release of the plan, the City is releasing initial data for immediate action items it committed to executing.
Citywide Data (January 12 – February 1, 2025) | |
Jail bookings | 460 |
Citations issued | 337 |
Guns seized | 42 |
Illegal camping citations | 89 |
Salt Lake City Police Special Operations Division(January 12 – February 1, 2025) | |
Methamphetamine | 39 grams |
Cocaine | 1,004 grams |
Marijuana | 1,838 grams |
Dab (Concreated THC) | 36,000 grams |
Fentanyl Pills | 1,567 |
THC cartridges | 660 |
“Our Public Safety Plan calls for action and accountability, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering on through our expanded foot and bike patrols, targeted investigations, and data-driven enforcement,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “As part of our City’s Public Safety Plan, our officers have arrested fentanyl dealers, repeat offenders, and those in possession of illegal firearms, many of whom were already on probation or parole. We want to make it very clear—our officers are committed to protecting our residents, our businesses, and our city from crime.”
Since the start of 2025, SLCPD officers have booked two people into jail four (4) separate times each and another person three (3) times. Additionally, two (2) other individuals booked into jail have also received four (4) separate citations each.
As the Public Safety Plan recommends, data from the Salt Lake County Jail, the local criminal justice system, and state partners is needed to more fully understand the outcomes of SLCPD arrests and better address gaps in the system.
As part of the Public Safety Plan, the Salt Lake City Police Department is taking an aggressive approach targeting fentanyl traffickers and violent offenders to disrupt criminal activity. The SLCPD has expanded foot and bike patrols downtown, in the Ballpark neighborhood, and along North Temple Street and the Jordan River Trail.
The department is also utilizing data to focus resources on local crime hotspots. Officers continue to enforce the law while recognizing with enforcement must be a balance with outreach. This is why licensed clinical social workers support the work of patrol officers by embedding mental health professionals to provide immediate crisis intervention and a path to recovery.
During a two-day operation on January 22 and 23, 2025, SLCPD social workers supported public safety efforts and provided resources to individuals near the Main City Library. Social workers from SLCPD contacted several people experiencing homelessness, resulting in 18 contacts, nine citations, seven arrests, and five individuals accepting housing assistance.
Separately, in a two-day operation along the Jordan River Trail on January 28 and 29, 2025, the SLCPD officers arrested 23 individuals. Officers and detectives seized approximately 1,770 fentanyl pills, along with other illegal substances, and addressed multiple illegal camps. The initiative also included community outreach, with social workers helping people illegally camping during the operation.
Recent examples of the SLCPD’s efforts include:
Officers arrested Joseph Valdez, 48, along the Jordan River Trail near 700 North. Valdez was found in possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, marijuana dab, cash, a knife, and an expandable baton. He faces charges including unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, and failure to disclose identity.
Officers arrested 66-year-old Wilbert Fike twice within a 24-hour period for allegedly damaging ticket machines at two separate TRAX stations, causing approximately $2,000 in damages. Fike was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of criminal mischief.
SLCPD Arrests Repeat Offender Accused of Drug Distribution at Gateway Mall
Officers arrested 59-year-old Kade Robert Ford near 152 South Rio Grande Street. Ford, who had active warrants and was on pretrial release for felony charges, was found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He faces charges including possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
SLCPD Homeless Resource Center Squad Arrest Man on Parole for Drug Possession and Trespassing
Officers arrested 38-year-old Michael Martinez near 400 South 500 West after finding him inside a fenced-off area with a cut fence. Martinez, on parole for vehicle theft, was found in possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, fentanyl, and a shaved car key. He faces multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance and trespassing.
Officers arrested a 27-year-old man at a Target store located at 1110 South 300 West for theft. During the arrest, the suspect claimed to have swallowed heroin, prompting a medical response. After evaluation, it was determined he fabricated the emergency to avoid jail. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.
SLCPD Bike Officers Patrolling Ballpark Neighborhood Arrest Woman on Drug Charges, Warrants
Officers arrested 44-year-old Lynda Montoya near 1400 South State Street. Montoya, who had active warrants, was found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She faces charges including possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
SLCPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team Seize 2,500 Fentanyl Pills, 3 Firearms
Detectives seized approximately 2,500 fentanyl pills, three firearms, and other drugs during proactive patrols near 1000 South Main Street. The suspect, 34-year-old Marco Antonio Lopez, was arrested and faces multiple charges related to drug distribution and firearm possession.
The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and SWAT team executed a search warrant at My Podzzz, a business in the Ballpark neighborhood, as part of an undercover investigation into illegal gambling. Officers arrested 42-year-old Ryan Delahuerta, seizing over $56,000 in cash, firearms, gambling machines, and narcotics from his two businesses. SLCPD emphasized that shutting down illegal gambling operations helps prevent further criminal activity in the area.
SLCPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) Arrest Man on Probation, Firearm and Drugs Seized
The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) conducted a traffic stop and arrested 24-year-old Cesar Carranza, who was on probation for a prior domestic violence conviction. During the stop, detectives observed a firearm in Carranza’s glovebox and detected the odor of burnt marijuana; further investigation revealed a real gun, a dab pen, and other drug paraphernalia. Carranza was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm as a restricted person, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.


