Hyde Park police report rising calls, juvenile e‑bike concerns and upcoming deer mitigation window

Hyde Park’s police chief told the City Council the department has seen an uptick in calls for service and outlined enforcement and staffing updates, an officer hiring, and safety concerns related to high‑speed electric bicycles.

The chief told the council “this last week, we had a 147 calls between the two cities; 29 of those calls were for Hyde Park,” and said traffic stops and arrests have increased in proportion to higher overall activity. He said animal‑related calls constituted roughly 20.7% of calls in the reporting period the department reviewed.

The chief reported the department is hiring: one officer will start Friday and another offer has been extended pending acceptance. He said the department will still be short staffed by two officers until the offer is accepted.

E‑bikes and small electric dirt‑bike‑style vehicles are a growing local enforcement concern, the chief said. He described three classes of e‑bikes under state law and said class‑3 bikes can exceed 28 mph and are restricted to older operators; juvenile operation has led to dangerous riding, confrontations between citizens and youth operators, and at least some reported fatalities statewide. The chief said Utah police chiefs formed a legislative work committee to consider policy and enforcement responses and that the committee will propose potential legislative solutions during the next session.

Council members and staff asked whether the public might need education and whether restricted licensing or training could be required. The chief said training requirements similar to off‑highway vehicle operator certificates were a possible model to consider.

The chief also briefed the council on the city’s deer mitigation plan. He said the plan has been signed and submitted to the Division of Wildlife and that the official registration number and signatures were pending; law allows harvest beginning August 1. The plan permits a total take of 120 deer over a three‑year period (about 40 deer per year) during the harvest window of August 1 through October 1.

The chief also presented preliminary radar‑trailer results showing the device’s calming influence on speeds: during a week on 3100 North, nearly 29,800 vehicles passed the trailer, the highest measured speed was 76 mph, but the 80th percentile speed was 36 mph, and the trailer’s flashing display reduced speeds.

Council members thanked the chief and asked staff to continue community education and to coordinate with Cache County Sheriff’s motor division for parade traffic control.