January 2018 | Vol. 12 Iss. 01
FREE YEAR IN REVIEW: FIRE, POLICE AND THE HOMELESS By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
Draper Parks & Recreation PROGRAM GUIDE January – June 2018
D
raper City had a year that won’t soon be forgotten. Here are some of the biggest stories from 2017. Fired police chief Possibly the biggest moment of the year came right at the tail end. Bryan Roberts was suddenly terminated during a city council meeting on Nov. 21. The council voted unanimously (Councilwoman Michele Weeks abstained) to fire Roberts stating in the resolution the council found “it is in the best interest of the city to terminate Bryan Roberts’ employment, without cause.” City officials have simply stated since that it was time for a change without further details. Roberts was appointed police chief in 2012 and named Police Chief of the Year in March by the Utah Police Chief’s Association. After giving his annual department report in a March 21 city council meeting, the council surprised the chief by honoring him for the award. In a press release from the city, Roberts was recognized for his innovative and progressive law-enforcement practices and providing stateof-the-art training to police staff that included fair and impartial policing. “He has enhanced community relations with a wide variety of community outreach programs that include Coffee with a Cop, a citizens academy, Sub for Santa program, school resource officers and increased the Neighborhood Watch program to almost 40 active groups,” the press release stated. After presenting Roberts’ report to the council, Mayor Troy Walker praised the department and Roberts in particular. “Ever since we’ve hired you, the department has gotten better and better,” Walker said. He later added, “You guys do an outstanding job and I’m grateful for all your service as well.” Now Roberts, who came to the department from Menlo Park, California, where he was police chief, is being replaced by John Eining. Eining previously was serving as deputy
Former Police Chief Bryan Roberts stands with the council in March after being recognized as Police Chief of the Year by the Utah Police Chiefs Association. (City Journals)
chief before taking over the role on an interim basis. The council passed a resolution on Dec. 5 appointing Eining as police chief. Prior to arriving with the Draper PD, Eining served in the Sandy Police Department for 22 years. “I am excited for the opportunity to lead the fine men and women of the Draper Police Department,” Eining wrote in a press release. “Our goal will always be to enhance our relationships, provide security and improve the overall quality of life for Draper citizens.” Walker said in the press release that Draper will be “well served” by Eining. “John is an outstanding police officer,” Walker wrote in the press release. “He is skilled, well trained and understands the unique role police officers play in our community. John is respected in the law enforcement community
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and he works well with citizens and city management.” Homeless shelter Though the third homeless resource center site was announced to be in South Salt Lake on March 31, Draper was not exempt from the selection process. After an original four shelter plan in Salt Lake City was scrapped with two proposed sites dropped, a third was chosen to be placed somewhere in Salt Lake County. March 10 saw five homeless sites selected — three in West Valley City and two in South Salt Lake, with two additional South Salt Lake sites added on March 21. But it was March 28 that saw Draper jump to center stage, literally. Walker shocked residents by announcing he
was offering two potential sites for consideration within his city limits. One site would be a portion of the Utah State Prison location, which is scheduled to be moved to Salt Lake City. The other site was at 15001 Minuteman Drive. Draper was the first city to willingly offer sites for a homeless shelter. “It’s the right thing to do, it’s the Christian thing to do. It’s the thing that will set us apart and make us the people we are,” Walker said at the time. Draper residents, however, did not feel the same. Nearly 1,000 residents showed up to an open house on March 29 at Draper Park Middle School. The meeting was supposed to be an open house–style meeting where residents could fill out cards with their comments and learn more about the sites.
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Inside: 2018 Draper Park and Recreation Program Guide
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