Multi-agency police operation preventing future crime
Jun 4, 2018, 10:02 PM | Updated: Jun 5, 2018, 9:38 am
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Dozens of people have been arrested and more illegal drugs were off the streets because of a multi-agency operation established for the purpose of crime suppression.
Four times a year, the West Valley City, South Jordan, West Jordan and Unified Police Departments, along with officers from Homeland Security, the ATF, EIF, FBI, U.S. Marshals, ICE, and helicopter pilots from the Utah Highway Patrol and the Utah National Guard team up to keep our communities safe.
The West Valley City Police Department headed up this quarter’s operation, which lasted for three nights last week. They allowed reporter Caitlin Burchill to exclusively embed with one of their detectives for a couple of hours to check out the impact the effort has on our neighborhoods.
“I don’t know how many times we’re watching the news and somebody commits a crime and we’re like, ‘We’ve arrested that guy before. He had warrants already,’ so a lot of these (operations) are helpful in preventing further offences from happening and trying to get the dangerous people off the street,” said Detective Joe Tan from the West Valley Police Department.
In just a few hours, Det. Tan searched for shoplifting suspects on the run and investigated a traffic stop where police found drug paraphernalia and a blasting cap.
“Something just as small as a simple traffic stop can ultimately lead in to other things,” said Lt. Saul Dailey with the Unified Police Department, who also responded to the call as part of the multi-agency operation.
“It’s a lot of collaboration with the other detectives, the other agencies, the other officers,” Det. Tan said.
Not long after, he checked in at another traffic infraction, which led police to a person who they say is here illegally and had a gun and drugs.
“We have West Valley warrants and wanted persons, but they’re so transient throughout this whole Valley that’s why this multi-agency operation helps because you have man power,” Det. Tan said.
From last week’s efforts alone, police agencies from the west side of the Valley, along with the feds, made 51 arrests for various crimes. They recovered nine stolen vehicles and seven firearms. They seized 2.3 pounds of methamphetamines, 5 grams of heroin, and 1 ounce of marijuana.
“Our apprehension rate on these are very likely,” said Det. Tan.
