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Alex Cabrero ReportingOgden residents have something this year no other city in Utah has, and it's something they can be proud of. After hearing this story, you can't blame residents here for maybe feeling just a little bit safer.
Their police chief, Jon Greiner, has been named Utah's number one police chief, but even with the honor, he says there is still a lot to do. There's aren't too many things you can get by a police chief, except winning Utah's police chief of the year.
Jon Greiner, Ogden Police Chief: “I’m a little bit embarrassed. It caught me by surprise.”
Ogden police chief Jon Greiner may have never been so speechless before.
Jon Greiner: “The backbone is the officer on the street, doing whatever he can do to make your community a better place to live.”
Officers sure do help, but these days so does technology. With a couple of mouse clicks, Chief Greiner can show you a satellite image of where his officers are, where parolees live, and what they've been in trouble for.
Jon Greiner: “Back when I started they kept track on a little 3x5 card and they kept it in an index.”
Some residents say they've noticed an improvement.
Taraneh Holloway: “If we do have a problem, they’re here immediately.”
In fact, residents say just a few years ago historic 25th street really wasn't a place you wanted to go to. Now they say it's different, and they say the police department has a lot to do with that.
Tim Mead: “Things have been a lot better just in the time I’ve lived here.”
But drugs are still a big problem, meth and oxycontin, especially with young people. Chief Greiner says it only leads to more crimes.
Jon Greiner: “Breaking into your car, shoplifting, stealing gas at drive-aways. That larceny type of crime with our youth is very high, and it’s getting worse by the year.”
But chief Greiner promises he's working on the problem all the time. And as state police chief of the year, maybe he can get more resources to help him out.
