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(KSL News) -- Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard says there is no need for a Unified Police Department. Kennard says the current precinct system is running smoothly, and those areas without precincts are adequately covered by the Sheriff's office. Also, the cost of starting a unified police department could run into the millions of dollars.
The unified idea was first suggested by Kennard after Draper and Taylorsville stopped contracting with the Sheriff's department, causing concerns about jobs.
Kennard's opponent in the upcoming Sheriff's race says his change of heart about the idea of a Unified Police Department is based solely on election year politics. Jim Winder claims Kennard is only backing off on the idea to win votes , and that he will continue to push for a UPD after the election is over.
He also said a UPD would never work because Kennard does not work well with the cities that would be served.
Jim Winder, Candidate: "Aaron Kennard has proved over the last 15 years that he is incapable of maintaining relationships with these cities. We have lost the city of Draper, we have lost the city of Taylorsville and we have lost large swatches of unincorporated areas because of Aaron Kennard's inattention to the core foundation of the Salt Lake County sheriff's office."
Winder is a 20 year veteran of the Sheriff's office. Kennard has been Sheriff for 16 years.
