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Samantha Hayes ReportingShe is the first woman to head up the Salt Lake County Metro Gang Task force, and with more than two decades of military and law enforcement experience, the Sheriff says she is the best person for the job.
Gang violence is not an uncommon headline anymore, and it's the job of investigators to track activity, arrest suspects and try to prevent gangs from recruiting more young people. In Salt Lake County all of that falls under the Metro Gang Task Force, and Teri Sommers is the woman in charge.
She is tough and her resume reflects that. Twenty two years with the sheriff's department, including domestic violence sergeant, sex crimes investigations, and homeland security. She also served 25 years in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
Lt. Teri Sommers, Metro Gang Task Force: "Some of the best leadership training I could ever ask for."
She is the first woman to head up such a position, but says gender roles have never prevented her from moving up.
Lt. Teri Sommers: "When I started in the jai you could work booking, women's floor, or you could work control. Now you have females running floors with total male populations. We absolutely have come a long ways and we are going to go a lot further."
In regard to her goals, Lieutenant Sommers says she is excited to work on expanding the gang information database, allowing investigators to more easily gather information on gang members quickly.
