Liberty Park gets increased police presence after community concerns

SALT LAKE CITY — Police in Salt Lake City are cracking down on crime in Liberty Park and adding more patrols to the community.

The increase comes as residents have been complaining about crime in the area. 

“We’ve heard from community members, they’re concerned about open drug use. We’ve also seen some assaults occur at Liberty Park,” Brent Weisberg with the Salt Lake City Police Department said.

Weisberg said they are taking a proactive response to keep the city safe by stepping up enforcement around the clock.

Liberty Park & the public safety plan

“Part of the mayor’s public safety plan dedicated a significant amount of resources to Liberty Park in response to community members’ concerns about criminal activity happening in and around the park.”

It will include officers from their homeless center resource squad, whose ultimate goal is to improve community relations.

“Some of those individuals may be homeless and our responsibility is to address that crime at that root level. And that’s what our officers are doing. They’re out every single day, making contact with individuals, trying to offer that help, but also enforcing our laws.”

Weisberg said this is part of the city’s larger effort to prevent crime, especially in areas where homelessness is prevalent, like along the Jordan River Trail.