CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

SLC Mayor on public safety: “We are at the beginning of an evolution”

Sep 21, 2020, 5:28 PM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:22 am

Linden Cameron...

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall addresses reporters on Monday, Sept. 21, ahead of the release of body-worn camera footage reportedly showing the shooting by SLC police of a 13-year-old autistic boy. Screen grab, Facebook.

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and the Chief of Salt Lake City Police Mike Brown, held a briefing ahead of the release of body-worn camera footage on Monday. The footage is expected to show the shooting by Salt Lake City police of Linden Cameron, a 13-year-old boy with autism.

 

SLC Mayor and SLCPD Cheif speak on shooting 

“As a member of this community,” Mayor Mendenhall said on Monday. “And as a mother of a 14-year-old boy, I’m profoundly heartbroken and I am frustrated.” 

“This shooting is another tragedy … for this young boy, for his mother, and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs.”

Upon the release of the footage, Mendenhall said she expects the District Attorney’s Office and Civilian Review Board, and SLC police’s internal affairs to conduct an investigation thoroughly and quickly.

Additionally, Mendenhall announced beginning with this particular footage, all police body-worn recordings involving Salt Lake City police officers will be published on the SLC Police Department’s website.

Citing work with already done by her administration, the Salt Lake City Council, with the Commission on Racial Equity and Policing, and the SLCPD, Mendenhall said the city is at “the beginning of an evolution in the way our city addresses public safety.”

She promised through this work, “we will live in a different Salt Lake City that is more safe for its residents, and for the officers who serve and protect them.”

Read Mayor Mendenhall’s full statement here. 

In response to the shooting of Linden Cameron by police, Cheif Brown said he was saddened at the situation.

“We need to take what we have learned and turn it into practice. We are facing a mental health crisis,” said Brown.

While his comments on the event were brief, Brown said too often police are dispatched to respond to calls that aren’t criminal in nature, rather problems with mental health.  

The shooting of Linden Cameron

On a Friday night, Sept. 4, Salt Lake City police responded to a home near 500 South and 1335 West (Navajo Street) in Salt Lake City. 

KSL Newsradio previously reported that Cameron’s mother, Golda Barton, called police, told them he was having “an episode,” and asked for their help taking the child to the hospital. Barton told KSL she specifically asked for an officer trained in situations involving mental health to respond. 

Police said they were called to a report of a “juvenile” having a “violent psychological issue” and when they arrived, Cameron ran. A short time later, a total of 8 shots were fired, according to SLCPD. 

 

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Crime, Police + Courts

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

5 hours ago

Defense attorney John Prior questions David Warwick during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fr...

Emma Keddington

Judge orders gag order for upcoming Chad Daybell case

Judge Steven Boyce has issued a gag order in the Chad Daybell case, after Daybell's attorney spoke with a media outlet.

6 hours ago

12 year old driver shown driving erratically on freeway...

Sam Herrera

WATCH: Police release dash cam footage of 12-year-old driver

The Utah Highway Patrol said the 12-year-old driver stole her mom's car. The girl was briefly arrested before being released to her parents.

8 hours ago

(Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio)...

Simone Seikaly

Possible carjacking in West Valley City leads to car fire, ramp closure

The UHP said a car was following another car eastbound on the 201 and moved onto the ramp toward NB I-15 when one car rolled and caught fire.

9 hours ago

(Loren Richardson via KSL.com)...

Simone Seikaly

Brighton resident charged with aggravated assault for confronting snowboarder

According to court documents, and based on witness accounts, Brighton resident Keith Robert Stebbings threatened a snowboarder with a shotgun.

9 hours ago

IRS texts are bogus. Picture shows a sign saying "warning, scam alert" on a keyboard...

Britt Johnson

Millions to be paid for Utah’s largest real estate scheme settlement

Over $10 million in refunds will go to victims of a Utah-based real estate scheme following the settlement of a lawsuit.

18 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

SLC Mayor on public safety: “We are at the beginning of an evolution”