Special Operations
Quick Links:
Division chief
Wayne Dial
CONTACTS:
- All Emergencies call 9-1-1
- Non-Emergency Dispatch
801-840-4000
To report a crime or request to speak with an officer - UPD Main Number
801-743-7000
for General Questions or to be directed to any Precinct, Division, or Individual - Special Operations
385-468-9827
4250 West 5415 South
Kearns, Utah 84118 - Business Hours:
Monday- Friday:
8am to 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Holidays: Closed
About Special Operations
The Unified Police Department’s (UPD) Special Operations Division provides specialized support to our partner City’s through our Precincts and the Investigations Division. Members of the Special Operations Division are ready to respond with specialized skills, training and equipment to assist with public gatherings, special events, emergencies, crime scenes and natural disasters anywhere in Salt Lake County; by contract or through mutual aid agreement. The units that make up the Special Operations Division include: the K-9 Unit, SWAT Team, Motorcycle Squad, Drone Unit and School Crossing Guards.
Motor Squad
The Unified Police Department Office Motor Squad has a proud tradition of service dating back to 1932. The Motor Squad consists of 16 Officers and 2 Sergeants. The UPD Motor Squad rides Harley-Davidson motorcycles and serves the public in a wide variety of assignments.
Members of the Motor Squad complete an intensive two-week course to become certified as a Motor Officer. Following the initial course, officers continue to train throughout their tenure with the squad. The squad enforces speed and traffic laws in the various partner cities and townships serviced by our Precincts. They also assist and participate in parades, regulate traffic-controlled community and charity events, enforce DUI and seat belt laws, participate in funeral escorts, provide dignitary motorcade escorts and assist in a wide variety of other community events.
K9 Unit
The K-9 Unit consists of a sergeant and five, full-time officer-handlers that provide canine support to Patrol, Investigations, and Corrections. In addition, the unit has three other officer-handlers that have canine partners assigned to them in a secondary capacity. The unit is often called upon to assist Federal, State, and other local law enforcement agencies. The officers and their canine partners work the evening and graveyard shifts in patrol, but are subject to call-out at any time the resource is needed. They search for and apprehend high-risk criminals who have fled from law enforcement and/or concealed themselves to avoid capture. Additionally, the unit provide dogs for evidence searches and narcotics detection.
The unit also provides canine demonstrations throughout the year for school programs, scout groups, community activities, and special interest groups. These demonstrations provide an excellent opportunity to promote a greater understanding of how and why canines benefit law enforcement and citizens in their efforts to keep our communities safe.
The Police Service Dog of today is like its human counterpart, professional and highly trained. All of UPD’s dogs are kenneled at the handler’s home. Handlers generally spend more time with their K-9 partners than with members of their own family. The dogs blend in very well in the family environment. This interaction contributes to the socialization of animals. They understand the difference between work and off time and behave accordingly. Some citizens may have a belief that police service dogs “mean.” However, a “mean” canine would have no place in our Police Service Dog program.
Police Service Dogs have a keen sense of smell. Without this ability, the dogs would be of limited value in law enforcement. Many people have observed a K-9 demonstration at one time or another which demonstrates how the patrol dogs chase down and capture wanted suspects. However, this is a very small portion of what they do. They are a search and location tool, first and foremost. Unfortunately, suspects being searched for are often uncooperative, violent law breakers and their immediate apprehension is necessary. To that end, patrol dogs are trained to defend themselves, their handlers and apprehend fleeing criminals.
UPD Drone Unit
The Unified Police Department Drone Unit consists of 15 FAA certified pilots with varying degrees of tactical and law enforcement experience. The unit is equipped with a diverse fleet of drones designed to enhance public and officer safety. These drones play a crucial role in various operations, including search and rescue missions for missing and endangered persons, as well as tactical operations and interior building clearing. The unit’s advanced technology provides vital support to K9 teams and patrol officers, ensuring comprehensive safety and operational efficiency. By leveraging these cutting-edge tools, the department can effectively respond to emergencies and maintain a safer community.
SWAT Team
The UPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team is highly trained in specialized tactical operations and is deployed in high-risk situations in order to minimize the risk of injury or death to officers and the public. The primary mission of the SWAT Team is to save lives. The unit is comprised of a Lieutenant Commander, Sergeants, and 40 officer; often referred to as Operators. The SWAT Team membership consists of officers and paramedics from the Unified Police Department, the Unified Fire Authority, and other local police departments who choose to participate and share resources. Team members are certified in diverse specialties including firearms instruction, explosive breaching, chemical munitions, less lethal force, emergency tactical medicine, and marksmen.
The team receives on-going training throughout the year; training in various specialized disciplines including hostage rescue techniques, vehicle assaults, warrant service techniques, static and dynamic building clearing, explosive breaching, scouting and intelligence gathering, downed-officer rescues and barricaded suspect scenarios. The SWAT Team also assists in training other department members in various tactical techniques.
In 2007, in cooperation with the Unified Fire Authority, the SWAT Team began a tactical paramedic program to further enhance the life-saving capabilities of the Team.
School Crossing Guards
The Unified Police Department Special Operations Division is staffed with 280 regular and substitute crossing guards for 69 area schools in Canyons, Jordan, and Granite School Districts. These schools are located within Holladay City, Midvale City, City of Kearns, Magna City, White City, and Millcreek City through a contract agreement with the UPD.
The dedicated men and women brave the various extreme weather conditions to ensure the safety of our children as they cross hazardous roadways going to and from school.
The Unified Police Department appreciates these hard-working crossing guards, and we are committed to keeping our children safe. Want to Become a Crossing Guard? The UPD hires crossing guards on a continual basis. For more information, visit our Civilian Positions Page in Careers.