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Police Department

Show All Answers

1. Do you have a police officer reserve program?

No. At this time, the West Valley City Police Department does not have a reserve officer program or volunteer program.

2. How can I become a Police Officer? Are you hiring?

Visit our Recruiting Page to learn about becoming a West Valley City Police Officer.

3. Does the West Valley City Police Department have a ride-along program?

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our ride-along program is only open to active police officer applicants.

4. Officers responded to my house to investigate a crime I was a victim of, I was curious what the status of my case was?

To check the status of your case, you can call the Detective Section and ask which detective has been assigned your case at (801) 963-3293.

5. Can I add information to my police report?

Yes, if you have additional information to add to your report, such as a serial number, additional property, etc., you may do so by calling the police dispatch number (801) 840-4000. They will either dispatch a police officer to your location to gather your information, or a telephonic officer will give you a call. they will do a supplement report to be added to your initial report.

6. How do I get my car out of impound?

If your vehicle has been impounded by the West Valley City Police Department, you will receive a letter within 3 business days. This letter will inform you of the location of your vehicle, along with contact numbers. If you have further questions, you may call the Records Department at (801) 963-3229.

7. Is there a warrant out for me?

You can check the status of warrants with the Utah Department of Public Safety Utah Department of Public Safety Warrant Search

8. How do I know if I have a criminal record statewide?

Given the confidential nature of this information, you will need to make this request in person at the West Valley City Police Department (Public Safety Building Lobby, 3575 South Market Street). You will need to show proof of identification, and fill out an application for a Criminal History check. There is a $10.00 processing fee.

9. How do I take care of a traffic citation?

You need to go to the WVC Justice Court on the north side of the Public safety building, 3590 South 2700 West. It should be no less than 5 and no more than 14 days after you receive the citation. If you have questions, you may call the court at 801-963-3590.

10. What do I have to do to make a complaint regarding an officer's conduct?

If you need to speak to someone immediately, please call police dispatch at (801) 840-4000 and ask to speak to the on duty supervisors. If your complaint deals with misconduct and is not "time sensitive", please contact our Professional Standards Section (Internal Affairs) at (801) 963-3596.

11. How can I make a claim for reimbursement for property damages or excessive fees? (i.e., towing impound fees)

You need to call the City at (801) 966-3600 and ask for the RISK Management Department.

12. How do I get a city background check, letter of good conduct, or VISA clearance letter?

You will need to come to the Public Safety Building lobby and fill out a request form for one of these services. You will be asked to show proper identification and pay the $5.00 handling fee. There may be a 24-hour waiting period for this search to be completed and a notarized letter to be completed.

13. I would like to check if my child's bicycle has been recovered or found.

You can contact the Evidence Unit of the Police Department at (801) 963-3229. They will be glad to check on any possible matches to your lost property or evidence items you may be trying to retrieve. For full description see the Evidence Unit.

14. How do I get a copy of my police report/traffic accident?

To obtain a record, go to the West Valley Police Department in the Public Safety Building at 3575 South Market Street, West Valley City, Utah 84119. Advise the Records Clerk in the lobby that you want to obtain a copy of a police report. You will be required to fill out a G.R.A.M.A. (Government Records and Management Act) request form and provide a copy of photo I. D. The charge for most reports is $15.00. By law, we are allowed up to 10 days from the date of your request to provide the record to you, although the normal return time is usually much shorter. Depending on the case, you may be able to acquire the record the same day you request it. More Information

15. I have a youth group that would be interested in touring the Police Department. How do I make arrangements for a tour?

Please contact the Community Services Section at (801) 965-5152 to make arrangements for a presentation or tour.

16. I would like to talk to someone about my contact with the West Valley City Police Department. How do I go about doing that?

We welcome feedback about the level of our service to the community (good and bad) from those we serve. Please feel free to contact us at Internal Affairs.

17. I might have some information about a possible drug operation (or criminal activity), who do I talk to?

Please call us at one of the following numbers: Police Dispatch 801-840-4000 or the Tip-A-Cop Line 801-963-3459.

18. How do I get a job in forensics?

The specific education and experience requirements to be hired as a crime scene technician or forensic scientist are determined by each individual agency. In general, most law enforcement agencies look for a degree in criminal justice with a science emphasis. Any accredited laboratory is going to require a BA/BS degree in chemistry, biology or a natural science. Experience in the areas of photography, fingerprint examination, chain of custody, evidence handling and courtroom testimony can also be valuable and can be gained by completing an internship or joining local forensic organizations. It is helpful to research job listings and job descriptions for the city and state governments in the area you would like to work.

19. My house/car was broken into, why didn’t the Forensic Unit respond to process it?

Each officer in West Valley City is equipped with a digital camera and a fingerprint kit and is trained to document and process general crime scenes. They will call for assistance from the Forensic Unit if necessary. Although the Forensic Unit may not respond to the scene, all items collected by the officer are then submitted and assigned to a Forensic Investigator for further analysis. Any developed prints will be entered and searched through AFIS and the detective handling your case will be notified of any results.

20. How long does it take to search a latent print in AFIS?

It depends on the clarity of the print, but in general it takes a Forensic Investigator around 30 minutes to enter and mark a print. Candidate results for a local search (just the records for the state of Utah) usually are returned within minutes. A candidate search through the FBI records for all 50 states is usually returned within a few hours, but can take up to 24 hours depending on how busy the system is that particular day. Any latent prints which are not identified are registered and remain in the database to be searched against new records which are added daily.

21. How many cases does the Forensics Unit work a year?

The Forensic Unit averages 1200 requests for analysis a year and typically responds to 150 crime scenes. More than 800 latent fingerprints are documented and analyzed for quality in the lab. The number of latent prints entered and searched through AFIS per year continues to grow, particularly with the recent addition of palm print records, it has exceeded 300. The West Valley Forensic Unit has over 1200 latent prints registered as unidentified that are being actively searched each day.

22. How can I learn about IRS scams?

Learn more about potential IRS and taxpayer scams on the US Treasury website. US Treasury Website

23. I've been contacted by a debt collector. Is this a legitimate collection agency?

Learn more about debt collection from the Federal Trade Commission. Debt Collection Information

24. I've been contacted by someone asking for money or personal information. Is this a scam?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers information about potential phone scams. Learn more...

25. How can I report a scam?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) takes complaints regarding potential scams. File a complaint

26. How can I get help for a friend or family member with mental health or drug problems?

The UNI Crisis Line provides 24 hour, 7 days-a-week phone crisis service and is staffed by mental health professionals providing emotional support, assistance, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention to individuals experiencing emotional distress or psychiatric crisis. They can be reached at 801-587-3000.

27. How can I file an internet crime complaint?

The IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the actual victim or from a third party to the complainant. File a complaint