Police chiefs push back on Box Elder County sheriff’s claims amid dispatch split

BRIGHAM CITY — Police chiefs from three northern Utah cities pushed back Wednesday against comments by Box Elder County Sheriff Kevin Potter, saying his claims that their agencies are jeopardizing public safety by leaving the county’s dispatch center are inaccurate and misleading.

Brigham City Police Chief Chad Reyes, joined by the chiefs of Tremonton‑Garland and Perry, said seven agencies are moving their police, fire and EMS dispatching services to Weber County for reliability and performance reasons. Reyes said Sheriff Potter’s criticisms, posted in a lengthy Facebook statement that did not allow public comments, misrepresented how interagency communication works in Utah. “While we appreciate that Sheriff Potter is passionate in his statement, several points he made lack context and complete information,” Reyes said. Potter argued that separating agencies into different dispatch centers fractures communication channels and creates safety risks for both officers and residents. He also cited national tragedies such as the mass shootings in Uvalde and Columbine as examples of communication failures. Reyes called the comparison inappropriate. “Using tragedies such as Uvalde, Columbine, and 9/11 to make a point about fragmented communications is disingenuous … What it is, is fear‑mongering,” he said. Reyes emphasized that Utah law requires radio systems to operate seamlessly across jurisdictions and that calls and data can be instantly transferred between dispatch centers when needed. He also shared an example where officers were dispatched to a 911 hang up call and given only GPS data rather than phone number records, which would have helped save time in their response. He argued that in a more serious situation, those moments of confusion could have put someone in danger. “We value the relationships we have with other agencies in the county, but we need to prioritize public safety over our egos and relationships with those agencies,” Reyes said. “We strongly believe that this move is the best decision for our communities.” Reyes said concerns about Box Elder County’s dispatch center have been building for years. And despite Sheriff Potter's reference to the recent loss of two Tremonton-Garland police officers in a deadly shooting last August, he said the real turning point came after a data breach shortly before that. "Box Elder's dispatch center operated off pen and paper for nearly two weeks, even though other area dispatch centers offered to take on those responsibilities for them," Reyes recalled. "This insistence that we regress 50 years, put our first responders at risk, and our citizens at risk." Reyes said residents should notice only improved response times as a result of the transition. Weber County Area Dispatch has already hired two dispatchers in preparation for the shift, with more hires expected this summer. The chiefs acknowledged the move will cost taxpayers slightly more. Reyes added one point where the three chiefs did agree: Sheriff Potter's insistence that it is better for all area agencies to work through one uniform dispatch center. "We invite all the public safety agencies in Box Elder County to make their actions match their words and prove their citizens safety is their priority by joining us, and Weber 911," he said. Sheriff Potter did not respond to requests from KSL for comment.

Other reading: Increase in drivers passing school buses draws safety concerns in Box Elder County

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