Press Release

Captain Richard Findlay
Division Commander

Lieutenant Lamar Ewell
Asst. Division Commander 

The Special Operations Division contains a number of different functions to address community needs and to support other divisions within the police department. 

Special Operations is under the command of a Captain and is responsible for the following units:

Traffic  

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR UNIT 
This unit is comprised of highly trained Officers who are responsible for investigating serious injury and fatal traffic accidents. Most of our Accident Investigators have been formally trained in Accident Reconstruction. 

HIT AND RUN DETECTIVE UNIT 
Detectives are assigned case follow up on hit and run accidents. 

MOTORCYCLE UNIT 
Motorcycle Officers are responsible for traffic enforcement and special events, such as motorcades, races, and protests. These Officers and Sergeants are highly trained in all aspects of motorcycle safety. In addition, Motors are tasked with DUI enforcement and arrested over 1,000 drunk drivers in 2005. 

Although the motor squad's primary function is traffic control, they participate in numerous special events. This includes funeral escorts, honor guards, parades, running/walking events, DUI saturation enforcement, and dignitary escorts. Not only does the squad help with crowd control for parades, they perform precision formation riding drills in the parade. The Salt Lake City Police Motor Squad also has the best safety record in Utah. 

To be a motor officer, one must be an officer with the department for eighteen months and must complete our in-house motor school. This school is considered to be one of the best in country. The two week school teaches the officer not only basic motor skills but how to provide law enforcement services from a motorcycle. Not only are motor skills put to the test, but the officer's attitude and willingness to work as a team are among the criteria evaluated. These two weeks are considered extremely tough and only those who pass the school are placed on a list to be a motor officer. 

Once an officer is selected to be a motor officer, they spend four intense weeks in Field Motor Training Officer Program. The "FMTO" training includes motor skills, in-field training, safety techniques, and other skills. Only when both training sessions are passed does the officer become a motor officer on the streets of Salt Lake City. 

Our motor officers train twice yearly on skill riding and other motor skills. The motor officers ride year round in Salt Lake, weather permitting. The Salt Lake City Motor Squad provides the city with a unique and versatile service. 

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Motor Squad Prepares for 
Utah's Day's of '47 Parade

watch video... 


SPECIAL EVENTS 
Special events in Salt Lake City require a city permit so that public safety concerns can be addressed. In the summer months it is not unusual to have thirty or more events a month. Some of these events, such as the Days of 47 and the Salt Lake Marathon require over two hundred Officers to ensure public safety and ease traffic congestion. 

PUBLIC ORDER UNIT 
The Salt Lake City Police Public Order Unit first became operational to address specific law enforcement needs during the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games. Today the mission of this specialized and select group of officers remains unchanged: To monitor and interdict individuals and groups who seek to disrupt peaceful demonstrations or activities or who engage in acts of civil disorder. Members additionally protect First Amendment rights of all persons to free speech through peaceful protests and demonstrations, and provide an immediate police resource for any unusual or emergency operations and dignitary protection. 

An intensive and progressive training program has been designed to train this core group of officers in advanced tactical techniques to be used during deployments. Because of their unique mission this training includes the use of special weapons and equipment, movement in and around large crowds and basic medical assessment skills. 

Officers applying for a position on the Public Order Unit must have completed at least one-year employment with the Salt Lake City Police Department. Members must also attend specialized training and demonstrate proficiency in these skills, work various shifts and be available when off duty. Public Order Unit Officers are committed to protecting life, property and Constitutional Rights.

APOLLO	JANGO	JINX	JJ	MOE	TROLL

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