The 659th meeting of the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise took place on Thursday, Oct. 1st. The group was privileged to hear from Jim Keith, Police Chief/Public Safety Director for the City of Washington.
The past 4 years of Chief Keith’s career have been as Chief of Police of Washington City where he was given the opportunity to start a Police Department and Fire Department for the City. His 25 year career in diverse aspects of law enforcement have given him the foundation to tackle this start up. His career has included dignitary protection as well as a number of years with the Utah Police Academy.
The Washington City force has grown in just 4 years to 16 officers who are faced with crimes driven primarily by drug use and gangs. Today, officers are finding the drug of choice in young persons and adults to be prescription drugs generally stolen from in-home medicine cabinets. Kids are using left over pills at “parties” where pills are passed around at random with the result of creating a heroin type high but can just as easily result in death.
He told us, as we have heard from others, that Washington County has members of all the “national” gangs. In fact there are over 500 documented gang members in our area and crime is what gangs do. Period. He reiterated that drugs and gangs equal crime.
On the positive side, he gave us great information on the use of drug dogs. St. George City has one and shares when needed. Washington City would very much like one but the total cost to bring a dog up to speed as a drug dog in time and training is over $30,000. The City is working on grants and other possible sources of funding and will continue to pursue the dream.
At the conclusion of the presentation the group had lots of questions and learned much about safe living in our area.
President Marla reminded the group of next week’s Board Meeting and invited everyone to return for more great information next week!
Marla Shelby-Drabner, President
The past 4 years of Chief Keith’s career have been as Chief of Police of Washington City where he was given the opportunity to start a Police Department and Fire Department for the City. His 25 year career in diverse aspects of law enforcement have given him the foundation to tackle this start up. His career has included dignitary protection as well as a number of years with the Utah Police Academy.
The Washington City force has grown in just 4 years to 16 officers who are faced with crimes driven primarily by drug use and gangs. Today, officers are finding the drug of choice in young persons and adults to be prescription drugs generally stolen from in-home medicine cabinets. Kids are using left over pills at “parties” where pills are passed around at random with the result of creating a heroin type high but can just as easily result in death.
He told us, as we have heard from others, that Washington County has members of all the “national” gangs. In fact there are over 500 documented gang members in our area and crime is what gangs do. Period. He reiterated that drugs and gangs equal crime.
On the positive side, he gave us great information on the use of drug dogs. St. George City has one and shares when needed. Washington City would very much like one but the total cost to bring a dog up to speed as a drug dog in time and training is over $30,000. The City is working on grants and other possible sources of funding and will continue to pursue the dream.
At the conclusion of the presentation the group had lots of questions and learned much about safe living in our area.
President Marla reminded the group of next week’s Board Meeting and invited everyone to return for more great information next week!
Marla Shelby-Drabner, President
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