SLCPD ramps up patrols of Liberty Park; Neighbor takes different approach
SALT LAKE CITY () — Beginning this week, the Salt Lake City Police Department has ramped up patrols and enforcement in Liberty Park.
This increased enforcement comes off the heels of the recent closure and patrol of portions of the Jordan River Trail. In the first three weeks of their operation, SLCPD made 82 arrests with 33 of them being for felonies. It's progress that they hope to see translate over to Liberty Park. Police say they've heard criminal activity has made its way to the park.
SLCPD 'making progress' in public safety along Jordan River Trail after closure
Police Spokesperson Brent Weisberg detailed, 'We have heard from our community members their concerns about the crime that is happening in Liberty Park. So, we want to remain responsive and proactive to those needs of our community members.'
Weisburg added that their efforts, which are steps taken to follow the city's public safety plan, hope to bring a feeling of safety to those who enjoy public spaces in the city, like Liberty Park. He explained, 'Liberty Park is such a popular place for people to come relax and enjoy the great amenities of our city. So as a police department, we have to make sure we're doing everything we can to sustain that growth and that positivity.'
PREVIOUS: Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall reports positive progress to city's Public Safety Plan
Often, the discussion around public safety has included overlap with crime and the issue of homelessness. It was a main focal point around the public safety plan released in January by Mayor Erin Mendenhall. Liberty Park, similarly to the Jordan River Trail, is no stranger to the unsheltered population.
That's why one Liberty Park neighbor is not a fan of the police's increased activity. Sarah Jolley called the patrols 'absolutely disproportionate to the neighborhood. It's disruptive to the neighborhood. And it's corrosive to this community.'
Over the last couple of years, Jolley has established what has become a sort of community resource center for her unsheltered neighbors from her front porch.
Photos: Sarah Jolley's front yard has turned into a resource and donation center for the unsheltered in the Liberty Park neighborhood.
'Neighbors Supporting Neighbors' is exactly as it sounds. Jolley sees those who are unsheltered living in or near the park as her neighbors. She explained, 'You don't choose who your neighbors are. That is a word that only describes proximity of people who live next to each other. I live next to all these people. They're all my neighbors.'
Jolley has made it her mission to know the names of everyone she can in the neighborhood, especially the unsheltered. She has lists of names and has taken their photos as they have become regulars at her donation stand and does not describe this group as 'transient.' Jolley says they are an unsheltered community that has called the Liberty Park neighborhood home just like anyone else who may have a physical home.
'Neighbors by proximity. Neighborly By choice. '
Sarah Jolley on the mantra of her 'Neighbors Supporting Neighbors' group
'To me, I met them all two years ago, and they're all still here. Two years is a long time to be neighbors of somebody,' said Jolley.
All of this has manifested itself over the years as a front yard full of donations that have come from neighbors and even local businesses. Her next plan is to build a food forest in her yard and public strip. The goal is to grow and share produce while continuing to build community.
Jolley said of the plan, 'We're building a food forest on my public strip and combating, you know, death with life. And whatever they're trying to do in the park, we're staying tight.'
ABC4 asked police about efforts like these to help the unsheltered community. Wesiburg responded, 'We see the generosity from our community members here in Salt Lake City, and that is what makes Salt Lake City such a great place to live, work and visit is that generosity of our community members.'
Wesiburg went on to describe the department's role in offering more than just enforcement. He described, 'We are focused on what is proven strategies. We want to make sure that we are offering wraparound services to individuals.'
He continued, 'We want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to provide a larger, broader, more holistic response to making sure that we're supporting these individuals with true wraparound services.'
Police didn't provide a timeline for how long enhanced enforcement will continue in Liberty Park, similar to their efforts on the Jordan River Trail, saying they will continue to respond to where crime is.
As for Jolley, you'll continue to see her at her daily meetings with people in the park discussing what everyone needs. You'll also see a growing crop of resources in her front yard.
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