Mendenhall recommends Brian Redd as new chief of police in Salt Lake
Feb 20, 2025, 2:48 PM | Updated: 2:58 pm
FILE — Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall meets with the Deseret News editorial board at the Deseret News’ office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced Thursday that Department of Corrections Director Brian Redd is her new pick for chief of police in Salt Lake City.
The announcement comes after former chief, Mike Brown, ended his 33-year career with the Salt Lake City Police Department last week. Brown served as the department’s chief for the last nine years of his tenure.
But on Friday, Mendenhall said Brown’s decision to resign was actually hers. While recognizing the department handled an increase in crime during the COVID-19 pandemic well, even with a low number of officers, ultimately it was “time for us to make a change with new leadership.”
“As our city grows, policing must continue to evolve and become more responsive to the dynamic challenges in our community,” said Mayor Mendenhall in a press release. “So it’s critical we meet this moment with urgency and with leadership in our police department that’s rooted in a deep commitment to collaboration. I believe Brian Redd is that leader.”
Most recently, Redd has been executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections. Before that, he was vice president of Goldman Sachs’ Compliance Division in Salt Lake City. Before that, he was with the Utah Department of Public Safety for 21 years, the press release said.
“My goal is to come in and listen to all levels within the organization and our community members on how we can best serve. I will aim to use my established relationships in the criminal justice and social services systems to resolve the challenging intersection of crime, homelessness, mental health, and addiction while partnering with all levels of government and the private sector to ensure individuals are treated with dignity and humanity while ensuring a safe community for all,” Redd said.
According to the press release, Redd is expected to go before the City Council on March 4 for “advice and consent.”
Contributing: Jacob Freeman, KSL TV
This is a breaking news story. It may be updated.
