SALT LAKE CITY -- Police have paid special attention to the areas of Salt Lake City near the new TRAX line to Salt Lake City International Airport, and the result has been nearly 50 arrests and citations since Monday.
Police said the arrests and citations are in response to complaints from residents and business owners. This type of geographically-targeted operation used to be called a sweep or a crackdown, but it is now referred to as an “order maintenance operation.”
Detective Veronica Montoya, Salt Lake City Police Department, said criminal activity, and thus complaints, increase this time of year.
"The complaints range from jaywalking to prostitution to drugs in the neighborhood,” she said. “We are just taking a pro-active approach."
Salt Lake City Police increased patrols in the area this week, which led to arrests.
“We got some really good information from residents and business owners,” Montoya said. “We're just following up on it and seeing what we can do to let them know they can't take over the neighborhoods."
Vincent Bertagnole lives and works in the area where the order maintenance operation has been underway, and he said the increased police presence reinforces the reputation of the neighborhood as a safe place to visit, shop and eat. He said he is glad police are active in the area.
“I'm thankful all of them are out and about, and I wish them to be safe," he said.
Montoya said citizen tips are a great help when it comes to combating crime in the area.
“These people do care about their neighborhoods,” she said. “It's great they're working with us and are our eyes and ears in the neighborhood."
Salt Lake City Police will keep up the order maintenance operation in the area through the rest of this week.
