TVPD often describes how officers work diligently each day to stop crime in our community, and in the past weeks, we have called attention to three significant operations, in particular. They include: 
 
• A narcotics investigation that led to the seizure of four illegally-possessed firearms and several pounds of illegal drugs 
• A retail theft blitz that resulted in nine arrests and more than $6,000 in recovered stolen property 
• A fugitive apprehension with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office that resulted in the arrest of a suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants 
 
But did you know that all three of these operations happened on one, single day? They are a great example of the meticulous planning, collaboration and steadfast commitment to safety and justice of all of our TVPD officers, and we are very grateful for their efforts. 

Project Safeguard Assists in Response to Those with Special Needs 

TVPD has been participating in Project Safeguard for about a year now. This important online program promotes communication and helps police better respond to those with autism, dementia and other special needs. 

Through this Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement initiative, you can fill out a form that will give officers details about the best way to interact with your loved one such as known triggers or behaviors, as well as emergency contact information. 

These details are particularly helpful in locating missing persons who tend to wander or interacting with people with autism, dementia of other such special needs at a scene. You can find more information and fill out a form here.

Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Evidence Manager Stephens, our latest Employee of the Month! Stephens recently was hired as TVPD’s Evidence Manager. 

He boasts an illustrious portfolio spanning more than 40 years, including distinguished service with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Taylorsville Police Department, the Utah Department of Health’s Office of the Medical Examiner and Taylorsville City. Throughout his tenure, he has held a wide array of roles, including corrections officer, patrol deputy, narcotics detective, property crimes detective, white-collar crimes detective, homicide detective, jail investigations detective sergeant, violent crimes detective sergeant, cold-case homicide detective sergeant, patrol sergeant, directed enforcement unit detective sergeant, medical examiner investigator, chief investigator for the Medical Examiner’s Office and code enforcement official. 

Summarizing more than four decades of service with a list of titles hardly does justice to Stephens' impact. An entire biography could be written about the countless investigations he has conducted and the assistance he has provided to innumerable citizens. As is often the case with officers of his caliber, many of these stories remain untold, even unnoticed by most yet deeply cherished by those whose lives he has directly touched. 

Since joining TVPD as Evidence Manager, Stephens has “quickly learned the assignment, embraced the role as a student and applied his vast experience to excel in this position,” notes Chief Cottam. Additionally, he praised Stephens for successfully reorganizing and restructuring the department’s evidence storage and management system, calling his organizational skills excellent. 

This recognition as Employee of the Month is not only well-earned but a testament to Stephens’ outstanding contributions to Taylorsville City. Upon receiving the award, he reluctantly accepted it but emphasized the importance of recognizing the next generation of public service professionals. 

In his free time, Stephens enjoys spending time with his family, baseball and being with his dogs — though he jokingly admits that the order tends to change from time to time.