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Police and fire brief council on staffing and seasonal coverage ahead of ski season
Summary
Brighton police and Unified Fire Authority reported readiness for the winter season: UPD said October calls numbered 90, and Chief Jason Mazarin said five officers were sworn in this morning; UFA described extra ambulance coverage and recruit classes due before Christmas.
Public-safety leaders told the council they are prepared for the upcoming ski season but emphasized continued community coordination.
Detective Anna Walker of the Unified Police (UPD) reported 90 calls for service in Brighton during October, including nine traffic accidents, three reckless driving reports, 12 parking complaints, five trespass incidents and four suspicious circumstances. Walker urged residents to use the UDOT app for weather and traffic information and reminded them that Cottonwood Heights will enforce canyon mouth traffic and traction rules.
Chief Jason Mazarin (UPD) told the council that recruitment is proceeding "far beyond my expectations," noting, "This morning, sworn 5 new officers," and that the department has scheduled extra coverage for weekends with a cover officer arrangement to staff peak days. He emphasized training timelines vary—new hires may take weeks to more than a year to be fully field-ready—but said the department is prepared for holiday and peak weekend demands.
Brad Lynn, Battalion Chief with Unified Fire Authority (UFA), reviewed the third-quarter report and said UFA will deploy an extra ambulance on weekends and holidays beginning Nov. 29 and has a current recruit camp with 16 participants due to graduate before Christmas. He also described recent deployments to hurricane response efforts and the staffing model used to send the closest apparatus to emergency calls.
Council members raised operational questions about gate access in Forest Glen and winter lockbox procedures for emergency responders; Lynn and UPD staff offered to follow up after the meeting on gate-specific procedures and coordination.
What happens next: Town and MSD staff will continue coordination with UPD and UFA on staffing patterns and gate/access procedures; residents are asked to report suspicious activity and to use established MSD and emergency contact channels when incidents occur.
