Riverton police introduce new K‑9 Atlas, present early‑year crime data and request two officers

Riverton Police Chief Taylor introduced the department’s new police canine, Atlas, and presented first‑quarter statistics showing mixed trends in calls for service and a recent uptick in property crimes.

Chief Taylor said January–March call volumes varied year‑to‑year but that the department is seeing increases in property‑related calls such as vehicle burglaries. He credited community‑oriented policing efforts — including a COP coordinator and SET (special enforcement team) detective — with helping to address problem areas and said those programs have improved information sharing with property managers and businesses.

Staffing request and budget timing: Chief Taylor and council members discussed a request for two additional officers. The chief said the new positions would primarily backfill patrol and provide a partner for a SET detective who currently works solo on higher‑crime investigations. Councilmembers asked for case studies and quantitative estimates of what two officers would accomplish (for presentation during the budget process) before committing funds. Chief Taylor said he will supply examples and metrics for the May budget work sessions.

K‑9 and community engagement: Chief Taylor introduced Atlas in person and noted the community helped select the dog’s name. Councilmembers and staff praised the department’s outreach efforts and the addition of the K‑9. The chief noted that arrests and citations have trended with population and seasonal factors and reiterated that enforcement and community outreach are both parts of the department’s approach.

Why it matters: The requested staffing changes would be considered as part of the city budget; if approved they would increase patrol capacity and are intended to support crime prevention and targeted enforcement.