South Salt Lake Civilian Review Board reports 2024 caseload; council confirms alternate and sets member pay

The South Salt Lake Civilian Review Board presented its 2024 year-end report to the City Council on Wednesday, outlining case statistics, training completed and two formal recommendations, and the council confirmed an alternate board member and approved ordinances adjusting board compensation.

The report was delivered by Joy Glad, chair of the Civilian Review Board, who told the council the board reviewed 89 cases dated between 2023 and 2024 and required review of body-worn or in-car camera footage in 31 incidents. “We reviewed a 89 cases,” Glad said. She reported that the board found 48 cases were within policy on their face, one case was within policy but “could have been handled better,” and seven cases generated significant discussion.

The board provided additional statistics and training highlights. Glad said the board held 12 regular meetings in 2024, conducted 16 officer ride-alongs among seven members, and received training on less-lethal weapons, arrest-control techniques, and the Open and Public Meetings Act. The board also reviewed the Graham v. Connor standard and attended the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement conference.

The report listed quantitative findings the board provided to the council. Among them: approximately 44,795 police–public interactions generated a report in the period examined; uses of force accounted for about 0.4% of those interactions; there were 16 cases that generated a sergeant’s action report; and one police canine bite was determined by the board to be within department policy. Glad told the council the majority of use-of-force cases involved people ages 26–45 and that case demographics showed 46 male, 20 female and 13 records where gender was not collected.

The board made two formal recommendations. It asked the South Salt Lake Police Department to consider adding light strips to patrol vehicles to improve visibility when vehicles are parked at angles, and it recommended refresher training emphasizing that officers should, where feasible, state the purpose for stops and detentions and allow time for de-escalation and safe distances. Glad noted the board was aware that department training had already been conducted in response to the board’s input.

During the meeting the council considered a mayoral appointment: the council gave advice and consent to appoint Brandon DeGafferty as an alternate member of the Civilian Review Board. The council voted on the motion at the meeting and the appointment was approved; one councilmember recorded an abstention during the roll call.

The council also considered two ordinances tied to the board. The first ordinance proposed an amendment to South Salt Lake Municipal Code section 2.703 related to compensation for Civilian Review Board members; the council approved that ordinance on the motion before it. The second ordinance established specific per-meeting compensation amounts for board members: $1.20 per meeting for regular members, $1.25 per meeting for alternates, $1.50 per meeting for the chair and $200 for the nonvoting advisory member; the council approved that ordinance as well.

Councilmembers and staff who spoke during the CRB segment included Joy Glad (Civilian Review Board chair), Kevin Miller (vice chair, referenced by Glad), Mayor Wood, Councilmember Clarissa (who participated in the ordinance discussion) and other council members who participated in the roll calls. Glad provided a contact slide and noted Civilian Review Board meeting dates for 2025 would generally be the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

The board’s materials including case-type breakdowns and full statistical charts were made available in council members’ dropboxes and the board indicated they would be posted on the Civilian Review Board website for public review. The board asked for volunteers to serve as a nonvoting advisor; one advisor had resigned in late 2024 and the position remained open.

The council’s actions on the appointment and the two ordinances took place during the meeting’s unfinished business section and were approved by roll call.