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UPD reports rising calls, Council delays decision on new community‑oriented sergeant
Summary
Unified Police Department presented March activity numbers and proposed converting an officer slot into a community‑oriented sergeant; council asked for written options and tabled funding for two weeks.
The Magna Unified Police Department told the council it logged 1,889 calls for service in March and has recorded 76 DUI arrests year‑to‑date. Lieutenant Chris Benedict presented the monthly statistics and said the department has intensified DUI enforcement on weekend nights, reporting “8 proactive DUIs” from a recent Friday–Saturday detail.
UPD and district finance staff later asked the council to consider a new community‑oriented policing sergeant for Magna who would supervise a small team and focus on local outreach. The district framed options including converting an existing officer position into a sergeant (a roughly $50,000 incremental cost) or funding a new position out of the MET/beer tax or fund balance. Council members asked staff to return with written options and cost scenarios; a motion to table the funding decision for two weeks carried by voice vote. No funding was approved at the meeting.
