PAGE 6
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Domestic Violence and Mental Health Units Rely on Specialized Training Get to know the new TVPD. Check this space each month for articles highlighting the units and employees that make up the Taylorsville City Police Department. TVPD’s domestic violence and mental health units each consist of one full-time detective. These detectives receive specialized training related to their assignments, take lead on investigations related to their responsibilities and assist other officers or detectives as needed. These units both fall under our special operations division supervised by Deputy Chief Miller and Sgt. Cheshire. Det. Keller is our lead domestic violence detective and has more than 12 years of law enforcement experience. Prior to joining TVPD, he worked for both Provo and Sandy police departments. He has worked as a patrol officer, field training officer, youth court coordinator, family crimes investigator and defensive tactics instructor. Additionally, he served in the United States Marine Corps. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in business administration. His hobbies include karate, jujitsu, yoga, mountain biking, backpacking, hunting, reading, music and traveling. Det. Keller investigates cases involving physical and psychological abuse between cohabitants. He works closely with our patrol officers and victim advocates. Domestic violence crimes often include cycles of violence that have at times persisted for years. Det. Keller has investigated such cases. Often, victims are hesitant to speak out. Det. Keller was recently able to intervene on such an incident. Now, this victim has an opportunity to move forward free of such abuse. If you or a loved one needs assistance related to domestic violence, please reach out and speak out. You can find more information online at udvc.org and dcfs.utah.gov/services/domestic-violence-services/ Det. Dean is our lead mental health detective with more than 15 years of law enforcement experience. Prior to joining TVPD, he worked for both the Federal Reserve and West Valley Police Department. He has worked as a special response team task
force officer, executive protection officer, patrol officer, crisis intervention officer, mental health court coordinator and mental health detective. His hobbies include hanging out with his family, camping, fishing, coaching, drawing and writing. Det. Dean investigates cases related to mental health, runaway juveniles and crisis intervention cases. He finds himself attached to essentially every unit within TVPD. Anytime officers find themselves trying to help a person going through a mental health crisis, Det. Dean is our go-to lead. The goal is to connect a person going through a mental health crisis with professionals and services that would steer them away from actions that may require law enforcement intervention. If you or a loved one need assistance managing a mental health crisis, helpful information can be found online via the National Institute of Mental Health, mentalhealth.gov, and the Utah Health Department of Mental Health/Substance Abuse and Mental Health. For parents and students who need help, check out Utah’s SafeUT app: safeut.org/
TVPD Employee of the Month Please join us in congratulating Sgt. Carver as our latest employee of the month. Sgt. Carver joined TVPD upon its formation. He has more than 16 years of military and law enforcement experience. Prior to joining TVPD, he worked for West Valley Police Department. His experience includes working as a patrol officer, field training officer, special victims’ detective, violent crimes detective, crisis intervention detective, K-9 handler, hostage negotiator, department instructor, and he is a Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) crisis intervention officer instructor. Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. His military experience includes serving as a member of the U.S. Navy Police. He has served in various places around the world, was stationed on two carriers, as well as the guided cruiser USS Princeton. He has received numerous awards from his military and law enforcement career including a bronze star, four Navy commendation medals, NATO service medals, distinguished service medals, meritorious service medals, several unit awards and a life-saving medal. Sgt. Carver was nominated as employee of the month by Deputy Chief Gray, for heroic actions he displayed. Sgt. Carver had responded to a residential house fire where a woman was reportedly trapped inside. He arrived prior to Unified Fire Authority, and “without hesitation forced entry into the home.” The home was filled with smoke and the kitchen was engulfed in flames. Despite this, he entered and was able to get both the resident and her dog out. DC Gray said, “No matter the circumstance, Sgt. Carver did not hesitate at any time to take immediate action. It was evident that within a few more minutes, the rest of the home would have been engulfed in flames.” See a news story about the incident at fox13now.com
