Millcreek leaders hear UPD 101 briefing as department details budget impacts and hospital pilot

Chief Jason Mazuran and Unified Police Department officials presented an overview the council called 'UPD 101,' explaining how the department mixes precinct-based policing with shared regional services and how that structure affects Millcreek's budget and operations.

Mazuran described the model as offering both local control and regional collaboration, saying shared services let cities 'pool resources, achieve economies of scale, and maintain access to high-cost, high-skill capabilities' such as investigations and SWAT. He told the council that shared services allow municipalities to add targeted 'add-ons' tailored to local priorities while still benefiting from the broader network.

Debbie Sanchez, UPD chief financial officer, outlined the fiscal impacts Millcreek experienced after UPD separated from Salt Lake County in fiscal year 2024. Sanchez said Millcreek previously had roughly 58.33 total employees and that the city’s direct staffing decreased to 50.34 after the transition. She said the county funding loss equated to $4.7 million systemwide, with Millcreek responsible for about $1.4 million of that loss based on its share of shared services. Sanchez said Millcreek's FY2025 UPD cost was approximately $16.14 million and that the department has worked to limit budget growth toward a board-directed 3.5% maximum.

On staffing, UPD leaders said a typical fully staffed shift in the Millcreek precinct is five officers and one sergeant, and they highlighted shared-funded positions such as victim advocates and a jointly funded social worker. Chief Petty-Brown described units shared with neighboring cities, including a drug enforcement unit with Midvale, and said these partnerships expand capacity while controlling costs.

Mazuran also described an operational pilot to embed full-time law enforcement officers inside hospitals to provide site-specific policing and continuity. He said the hospital model—piloted at LDS Hospital with two dedicated officers—requires training to operate within healthcare settings and comply with privacy rules. 'Early results from the pilot program have already demonstrated success,' Mazuran said, and UPD expects the model to strengthen partnerships and provide mutual benefits to both healthcare providers and member cities.

Council members asked about mutual aid billing, reconciliation of shared services, and where shared offices are located. Mazuran said mutual aid operates under agreement and 'it would become apparent if that were to happen and it would get shut down' if cities tried to exploit the arrangement, and he noted that shared-service tracking is maintained though it tends to 'all balance out.'

The presentation informed later council budget discussions; no formal action on UPD governance was taken at this meeting.