The History of Orem Law Enforcement

The History of Orem Law
Enforcement
1919-2008
Marshal John Lundgren
Orem Police 1965
Sterling Harding, Marshal/ First Chief of Police
The beginning of Orem city law enforcement 1919
Utah County sheriff's Office:
In 1919 when Orem town was founded, the former Provo bench had relied on the
assistance of the Utah county sheriff's office. As Orem formed its own town, they quickly
recognized the need for a law enforcement agency that would be readily available in the
town, and could also be proactive in the increase of traffic through Orem; on what is now
called State Street. In 1923 Orem decided it was time to withdraw from the assistance of
the Utah County Sheriff's Office, and form a law enforcement entity in which the town
could rely on for 24 hours a day.
Orem Town Marshal's: February 24th, 1923
Town Marshals From Left to Right, James Wilson, Avalon Richards, John Lundgren, Earl Mecham, J.D. Bishop, Rulon (
Rudy ) West, Harold Hansen, Arnold Burningham and Victor Christensen
The First Orem town Marshal was James W. Wilson and was appointed February
24th, 1923. James worked from his home, and did not have any type of a police
department or office. If James needed to take an individual into custody, he would need
to take the suspect to the Utah county jail and had no other holding facilities available to
him. James Wilson’s primary goal as Orem town marshal was to catch speeders along
Orem's state street which had been paved in 1921. As Orem town began to grow slowly,
so did the problem of speeding vehicles, and intoxicated drivers. The single most
concerning activity to citizens at the time was the growing rate of speeding vehicles on
State Street. In 1940 the Orem town Council rejected a proposal by the State Safety
Council to increase the speed limit on State Street to 60 Miles Per hour. Traffic concerns
meant there would be a need for an increase in law enforcement.
American fork at this time had a popular dance hall, and with Provo the largest city in
Utah County with BYU, State Street became the quickest way to and from the dance hall.
State Street soon earned the nick name “Speedway of death ". Between 1923 and 1948,
Orem had rotated through a total of 13 town marshals. One of the towns Marshal’s that
served Orem in 1943 was Harold Hansen. Harold left Orem town Marshal’s office that
same year to join the United States Marshals office. Two Orem town marshals were
named on November 26th, 1947; and were Sterling Harding and Scott Wilkins. Sterling
Harding is currently the only Orem town Marshal still alive. Scott left in December 1947,
and Victor Christensen was the last appointed Deputy Marshal; and was only there for
about 2 months before Orem made a change over from a Marshals office, to a police
department. Sterling takes great pride when he speaks about his days as the town
Marshall. Sterling was an amazing Marshal, and Police Chief, and also a returned service
man from WWII. Sterling was very proud to serve his country, and even more proud to
serve the citizens of Orem. Sterling had no regrets about his time spent with Orem, and
was proud of his accomplishment to have made the change from Orem Marshal's to Orem
Police. At this time the depression was ending; and new ideas were unwelcome because
they were expensive, Sterling Harding helped progress Orem law enforcement into the
City Police department that it is today. Sterling approached the city council with a request
for a Police Department to be named for Orem.
To this day Sterling has vivid memories of his time as an Orem town Marshall, and
being the first chief of police of Orem city. Orem was changed from Orem town
Marshal's, to Orem Police Department because at the time Marshal's did not have the
same authority as Police Officers. Police Officers had more authority to enforce different
laws that town marshals were not able to enforce. Sterling’s would write a large amount
of speeding tickets on State Street, enforce drunk driving, and also responded to thefts
and traffic accidents. Sterling described how he wrote speeding tickets as “ I would sit
up on the hill up on 800 East in the north end of Orem, and watch cars drive by, as the
cars went by I would say that one is doing about 60 mph and would judge it by the cloud
of dust coming up behind the vehicle, the bigger the cloud, the higher the speed and then
I would go write it a ticket for going 60 miles per hour, it was all an estimate back then ".
Late one afternoon Scott Wilkins was working a shift along with Sterling Harding.
The two Marshals were called down to the West Vineyard area on a report of an
intoxicated male. Scott pulled up in the described area of Vineyard and got out on the
drivers side of the vehicle and Sterling got out on the Passengers side, a few seconds later
Scott & Sterling heard a gun shot. Scott & Sterling returned to the patrol car to find a
bullet hole in the driver’s side door, as Scott opened the door he found the round to have
entered the door, gone completely through the driver’s seat, through the rear seat and
have exited the vehicle on the passenger’s side rear corner panel. The suspect was later
arrested by Scott Wilkins and Sterling Harding. The male who had shot at Marshal
Wilkins vehicle was the intoxicated suspect he was looking for, the suspect later admitted
he had thought the marshals were still in the vehicle. Marshall Wilkins would have most
likely been killed if he were still in the vehicle when the shot was fired from the high
powered rifle.
Sterling Harding brought the idea to have a police department to the town council in
1948. At the time the State of Utah actually would help out with money for Police
Agency's but not for town marshals. If Sterling could get the town to make a change over
from a Marshal's office to a Police department, Orem would be able to have another
police officer making a total of three. At the time with the population, Orem was only
allowed two Marshals to work in the city at one time; as per population. Police
Departments could have as many Officers on a Department as they felt were needed.
Sterling’s vision to become a Police Department quickly became a reality.
Orem Police Department: Feb 24th, 1948
As Orem received its first business boom with the opening of Geneva Steel in 1944,
so did the population in Orem and it quickly grew from Orem Town, to Orem City. With
the increase in workers at the steel plant, and more and more people moving to Orem;
Sterling found he needed more resources to effectively do his job. On February 24th,
1948 Sterling Harding was named the first chief of police and given two Officers to assist
him, Ralph H. Peters and Kenneth L. Wilkinson . At the time there was no uniform
budget, and Sterling had to purchase his equipment. Sterling drove to Salt Lake Stamp,
located in Salt Lake City to have his first Police Badge made. Sterling was still using a
personal car for police work and was now working out of a very small office which he
was given by Orem. Sterling was happy with what he was given and had to work with,
and never complained. The new Orem Police officer’s first enforcement duty was to
enforce the ordinance in which water hoses were left with open nozzles causing a
disturbing drop in water pressure and affecting the agricultural industry. Later that same
year Orem purchased two police cars and for the first time ever, the officers were on call
24 hours a day. The officers could not leave the city at any time unless on city business,
or out of town on approved vacation. Chief Sterling Harding retired in 1951 to work on
his horse ranch and be a chef in a family owned restaurant.
Ralph Peters was named the new chief of police for Orem City on January 3rd, 1951.
The department soon expanded to a total of 5 Police officers. On January 28th, 1952
Orem city council approved the Orem Auxiliary Police force. Auxiliary officers had no
formal training, but acted with the full police powers and were sworn officers.
Auxiliary officers were required to work with a full time officer when they were
working as officers. Auxiliary officers were not paid for there work, and were not
compensated for any of the equipment they purchased for work purposes. In order to
become a Police officer full time in the early 1950's, the applicants would fill out an
application with the city, and then when Orem city was ready to hire a new officer, the
mayor would hire from this list. You then were given 12 months from your date of hire,
to attend a two week police academy out at Camp Williams. No prior training or
experience was needed before being hired, and there were no state regulations for
Auxiliary officers to be certified as part time officers. In the next few years to come; the
State of Utah would develop basic training also known as Peace Officer Standards and
Training. This change would affect Orem directly due to the enormous amount of support
the Auxiliary officers gave to Orem Police Department.
Police Force and Fire Chief, 1951: Vern Partridge – Fire Chief, Lloyd Anderberg, Chief
Ralph Peters, Rulon Cook, Joe Gardner and Mervel Walker.
Chief Peters quickly became out manned with the growing population, and
approached the Orem City council with an appeal for a pay increase from $220.00 a
month for each officer, to $250.00. Chief Peter's was surprised when he was informed
that Mayor Gillman refused the request for a pay increase. Councilman David Rowley
pointed out that hundreds of employee's at Geneva Steel worked for less money than the
officers were making now. Chief Peter's then headed up the only resignation in Orem
City’s history, of an entire Police department. Chief Peters turned in a letter of
resignation signed by himself, Vernon Partridge, Joe Gardner, Rulon P. Cook, and Lloyd
Anderberg. Lloyd Anderberg was the fire chief, but also resigned. This caused a large
commotion among Orem city citizens. A large delegation of citizens approached the
Orem city council and asked for the council to reconsider there decision to refuse the pay
increase. The delegation explained to the council it would cost more money to hire new
officers and train them, than it would to just give the officers the pay increase. Sterling
Harding representing the Chamber of Commerce also approached the city council with a
petition signed by 83 businessmen, requesting the Orem officers get the pay increase, in
hopes of keeping experienced professional officers on the streets of Orem. Despite all
this, the officers did not receive there pay increase, and the resignation of the whole
police department was accepted by Mayor Gillman. The only officer to return to work for
Orem Police at a later time would be Joe Gardner, Vern Partridge would also return at a
later to work with the fire department.
Chief Arthur Henderson 1952
Five new officers were hired, and two retired town marshals Rulon West and Scott
Wilkins were brought in to train the new officers. The new chief of Police named was
Arthur Henderson who was a former Lt. in the air force. Chief Henderson was named
Chief of Police in 1952.
Late one night in September of 1952 the Utah highway patrol requested help with
getting a vehicle stopped traveling South bound on State Street. The vehicle had license
plates from Illinois and had been paced out on State Street at over 100 Miles per Hour.
The Utah highway Patrol was attempting to stop the vehicle when the driver reached out
the driver’s side window and began firing at the Utah Highway Patrol Trooper. Vern
Stratton waited at 1600 North State Street south bound and relayed to UHP he would wait
for the vehicle. Vern Stratton saw the vehicle pass him south bound on State Street and
Vern pursued the vehicle with another Orem officer Mervel Walker in the vehicle with
Vern.
The vehicle refused to stop and Vern pursued the vehicle in to Provo. As the vehicle
attempted to make a ninety degree right turn, the driver did not correctly negotiate the
curve, and went straight into a corn field wrecking the car. Vern had out a .38 Smith and
Wesson revolver, and Mervel had a 12 gauge shotgun. Vern yelled to the driver there
were two officers, one with a scatter gun and told the driver to throw his gun out and get
out of the vehicle. After Vern arrested the driver, he found the car was stolen out of
Illinois. Vern said the driver of the stolen car told Vern; that he had every intention of
getting out of the vehicle to have a shootout with the police; until he had heard Vern say
they had two officers and a scatter gun.
Orem’s population was now 11,000 and had over 150 miles of roadway. Chief
Henderson quickly decided to address the growing traffic control issues at uncontrolled
intersection and decided he would have four way stops signs put in at intersections to
help make the streets safer. This drastically cut the amount of traffic accidents at
intersections and injuries reported each year. In March 1953, Orem purchased a 1953 88
Oldsmobile for $1,011.00. Orem was the first police agency in the state of Utah to have
this vehicle for police use. Orem also obtained the police shooting range in the foothills
above Orem city cemetery. This range soon became publicly known as one of the top
pistol shooting ranges in the Intermountain West. Orem Police were also given an old
police garage for a new police station on the west side of the fire station. With in a short
time the department was moved in, but crowded.
Orem Police Department Growth: Spring, 1959
Chief Reed Burgener 1955-1963
In the late 1950's Orem continued to blossom in size and the Orem City Police
Department began to grow significantly to keep up with the times in 1959. Orem city
population was now at 20,000. Orem was the fourth largest city in the state and would
pride its self on one of the lowest crime rates in the state of Utah. Orem City Police
Officers were now wearing the traditional light brown pants, and pink tan shirts. With
increasing traffic problems, Chief Burgener gave permission to purchase there first radar
unit. The radar unit was put to use on October 18th, 1960, and was found to be a very
resourceful tool for officers. Chief Burgener also organized Orem city’s first
investigations division. The first Orem Detective was Clive Pulham. Clive was given the
rank of Captain, a tiny office and desk, some fingerprinting and photographic equipment.
Officer Mervel Walker would assist with investigations when needed. About 1963 Bruce
Ashton was appointed as a second detective for Orem City.
April 1st, 1961 was the first date Orem city now had a police dispatcher on duty 24
hours a day, seven days a week. Orem created a new name for the department in July of
1963, and Orem was now called the Orem Department of Public Safety. As Reed
Burgener retired as chief, the first director of the Orem Department Of Public Safety was
named on July 11th, 1963 and was Barney Allen. Director Allen was a former air force
Colonel. Director Allen was Chief Of police, and was also over the auxiliary police, and
the volunteer fire department. Two weeks after Director Allen was named, the city
council decided to dissolve the Auxiliary police Program and started a new program
named the reserve program. It was at this time Utah’s Peace Officer Standards and
Training began the regulation of Police Officer Certifications. This affected all agencies
due to the State of Utah now enforcing basic training for Police Officer Certifications.
Orem could no longer utilize auxiliary officers who would come out and work as
police officers without any type of training, and could only use Reserve officers part
time. Reserve officers were part time officers who had completed P.O.S.T., and were
certifiable as police officers in the State of Utah. The Orem city council also felt this
change would help to provide a more effective operational unit which would be directly
responsible to the Department of Public safety. Director Allen requested money for new
officers, equipment to help replace the dozens of Auxiliary police which were no longer
available. On August 15th,1963 Director Allen turned in his resignation after only a
month of service. Director Allen was quoted as saying “I was given a monumental task
with an inadequate staff and a minimum program ".
Chief Larry Lunnen: October 14th, 1963
The resignation of Director Allen also ended the Orem Department of Public Safety,
and Orem reverted back to two individual departments. The new chief of Police was
named on October 14th, 1963 and was Larry Lunnen. Larry brought an impressive
resume, and a whole new way of thinking to Orem City. Larry was a 29 year old graduate
of the University Of Utah in sociology with an emphasis on criminology. Chief Lennon
had spent 18 mos. with the US Treasury department in Seattle, and six years on the Salt
Lake City police force. Chief Lunnon was paid $519.00 a month when he began. Chief
Lunnun's primary goal as newly hired chief was to bring Orem city police department to
F.B.I. specifications. Chief Lunnen immediately asked for more officers, and college
level training for his officers. Chief Lunnen instigated a new filling system and record
keeping system, and changed all shift rotations from a weekly rotation, to a bi-monthly
rotation. Chief Lunnen also felt there was a need for more Police work with the
community, and less with in the department for supervision. Chief Lunnen felt Orem
Police department had become “Top Heavy “with administration. To achieve a better
balance in man power several officers were demoted, and the ranks of Captain and
Lieutenant were done away with. Chief Lunnen also followed through with the
reorganization of the Reserve Program. With chief Lunnen being an " outside man ", he
was able to take a fresh look at the department and was comfortable with making drastic
changes, some decisions would have been awkward for officers to make that had worked
there for several years together.
Chief Lunnen also approached the City with a new idea, Chief Lunnen explained if
Police cars were traded in at 75,000 miles as opposed to the traditional 100,000 miles, the
department could save money much money in maintenance costs. After trying this new
idea for a few years the city council felt so much money had been saved because of Chief
Lunnen, the council gave the department another new car in a way of saying thank you.
Chief Lunnen also started a program called “chief for a day ". Chief Lunnen had all high
school students in Orem city write an essay on what it would be like to be chief for a day.
The winner was selected, and got to spend an entire day with the chief. This program was
a community outreach program, and helped to create positive ties between the department
and younger population. The chief also liked how students would dig in to exactly what it
was like to be chief, and then write there essays. Chief Lunnen established all-day
seminars in the schools on first aid, firearms safety. On April 28th, 1967 the legacy Chief
Lunnen had created had come to an end. Chief Lunnen submitted his resignation to Orem
city. Chief Lunnen was not retiring from law enforcement by far. After leaving Orem,
Chief Lunnen went to Weber State in the Police College Science Department, and was
soon named by Governor Calvin Rampton as the new Commissioner for the Utah
Department of Public Safety.
Chief Simmons: June 5th, 1967
Chief Lunnens successor was also a man ahead of his time with ideas that would
change the Orem Police Department, and caused a ripple effect across the State Of Utah
to help improve police enforcement for all law enforcement officers, and create a better
feeling of safety for the general population. Lt. James Simmons was appointed Chief of
Police on June 5th, 1967. Chief Simmons had been a police Officer for Orem since 1959,
and prior to that he had served as an auxiliary police officer to Orem City for 2 years.
Chief Simmons had been promoted to Sgt. on July 26th, 1963 and made Lieutenant on
April 1st, 1964.
Chief Simmons first major change in Orem city was the move during July 1970, in
to the brand new 6,000 square foot Police department which chief Simmons had helped
design for the new city center. At the time of the move the police department employed
16 persons. Chief Simmons spent 3 years working toward a program which he called the
“Car per man “program. Chief Simmons proposal would mean each Orem city officer
would be assigned a patrol vehicle for on duty, and off duty use. If a crime were
committed in the middle of the night, an officer could respond directly from home, and
would not need to stop at the police department to find a patrol vehicle to use. Also Chief
Simmons explained having patrol cars parked all through the city would help deter crime,
and would also mean if a crime were committed in a police officers presence off duty, the
officer would have ready access to his patrol car.
In order to accomplish his goal, Chief Simmons had 13 former Utah Highway Patrol
vehicles modified to match equipment in the other 9 Orem patrol cars. In all 22 cars, one
per man, were in use off-duty as well as on duty activities. Chief Simmons took pride in
knowing that 24 hours a day; police cars were parked in nearly every Orem neighborhood
with an Orem officer nearby. Chief Simmons also equipped each vehicle with a four
channel radio, connecting the officers with the Utah Highway Patrol, Provo Police
Department, and the State Emergency Channel. Chief Simmons made Orem the first
police agency in the state of Utah, to have the car per man program. Other agency's soon
followed Chief Simmons car per man program, and now in nearly all agency's in the state
of Utah it is a common practice.
Chief Simmons was the only Orem chief of police to have a magazine made once a
year, for five years called the Orem Peace Officer ". The Idea came from Clyde Weeks
who worked for the Geneva times and approached the Chief with the idea. Chief
Simmons was very happy with the idea, and found it to be great Public Relations Tool for
the Department. Clyde Weeks had people place adds in the magazine, to help cover costs
on the magazine. Chief Simmons proved to be a great administrator, and did not forget
above all else he was still a police officer. On August 8th, 1971 under the supervision of
Chief Simmons, eighty officers from Utah, Salt Lake, and Emery Counties, including
Sheriffs Officers, Utah Highway Patrolmen, State Liquor Enforcement agents, and
Federal narcotics Officers met at Orem City Center for briefing. The group of eighty
officers was led by Toby Bath of the Orem City Police department and the idea for the
drug raids also originated with Toby Bath. Toby had seen a large increase in drug use in
Orem city, and felt it was time the problem was aggressively addressed.
Toby Bath In his early days in the Utah Narcotics Team for Region IV.
The group then embarked on the first of many well organized, planned and executed
drug raids through Utah County. Twenty Persons were arrested in the very first raid, but
at the time Chief Simmons did not realize the long term affects of his actions. Due to
Chief Simmons attack on local drugs, this began what was soon after called the Region
IV Task Force Narcotics Bureau, which would involve officers from Orem, Provo,
Springville, and the Utah county Sheriff's Office. This unit is still an active drug unit in
Utah County, and is now named the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force.
Chief Simmons ideas did not stop there; in March 1973 Chief Simmons adopted the
911 emergency call number; to assist citizens in a quick response for emergency
situations. Chief Simmons resigned as chief in January 1976, and was honored for
serving Orem city as chief Of Police longer than any other Orem chief to that time. Chief
Simmons decided to remain on the police force for several more years and continued to
serve the community.
Left to Right, Gerald Nielsen, Rex Skinner, Gary Gilmore, Gary Gilmore
Gary Gilmore, an Internationally recognized Case: July 19th, 1976
Sergeant Gerald Nielsen was named acting Chief until a new Chief was hired by the
city. Gerald Nielsen was relieved by Robert Wadman a few months later. Gary Gilmores
case was internationally recognized, due to Gary Gilmore being the first person in over
10 years to receive the death penalty in Utah after the Supreme Court had reinstated the
death penalty. Gary Gilmore was executed by a firing squad which also made
International headlines. At this time in history, prisoners were allowed to choose the
manner of there own execution and it was carried out accordingly.
Rex Skinner was the lead Investigator in the Gary Gilmore case and Gerald Nielsen
also worked the case of Gary Gilmore. On July 19th, 1976 at about 10:30 pm at the
Sinclair gas station on 800 North and 175 East Gary Gilmore pulled up and entered the
business. Gilmore took the clerk Max Jensen in the bathroom, and shot him in the head
killing Max. Gary then drove to Provo and shot and killed Ben Bushnell the manager of
the city Center motel in Provo. Gary put the gun he had used in a bush, and the gun went
off accidentally shooting Gilmore in the hand.
Orem Officers, Ted Peacock, Terry Taylor and Ron Allen made a Felony stop into
Lindon City on Gary Gilmore. As the officers were arresting Gary; he was being read his
rights by Lt. Peacock. Gary said he did not want to speak with anyone, and looked up and
saw Gerald walking towards him. Gerald was the only officer with out a firearm drawn.
Gary Gilmore nodded at Gerald Nielsen and said “I will talk to that cop ". Gerald had
issued Gary a citation for theft the week prior to the murders, and while interviewing
Gary about the theft, Gerald bought Gary a cup of coffee. Gerald also drove Gary home
and because this demeanor in which Gary was treated, he was willing to speak with
Gerald now that he was being questioned about two murders.
Gerald Nielsen was able to obtain a confession from Gilmore while investigating the
murder. Nielsen said he had eye witnesses seeing Gilmore leave the murder scene and
Nielsen tried to get Gilmore to admit to the murders. Gary did have a self inflicted
gunshot wound to the hand. Gilmore proclaimed he had alibis with him at the time the
murders were committed, but Gerald Nielsen felt Gilmore’s story had holes in it. Nielsen
went back to try again at a second interview with Gilmore. This time Gary simply said he
had seen the murders in a news paper, and he did not know those two Mormon boys were
returned missionary's with families. Gary told Gerald Nielsen when both murders were
committed, it felt as though he was watching the murders happen through a cloud, and he
was not in control. Gary also said that if he hadn't been caught, he'd likely have gone on
killing.
Not much later, Gilmore said that he ought to die for what he'd done. Gerald Nielsen
asked Gary if he wanted to die, Gary looked at Gerald and said “No.... do you want to
die? ". Gerald said Gary was always very respectful to Gerald in a way to say thank you
to Gerald for treating Gary with such respect. Rex Skinner took the evidence to
Washington D.C. and had the F.B.I. crime lab analyze all the evidence in this case. To
ensure the integrity of the case, Rex personally took the evidence to Washington to keep
a proper chain of evidence and to keep an air tight case. Rex’s meticulous follow up and
professionalism in this case were well noted, and earned him the respect of officers
through out the State of Utah. Rex was able to successfully close the Orem case and
assisted Provo in there investigation as well. Gary was only charged with the Provo
murder and not the murder charge out of Orem. Prosecutors did not want to run the risk
of losing a trial on a technicality, and losing both cases if tried together. Gary was
convicted on the Provo charge, and the Orem charge of Murder was never prosecuted.
This is a picture of the actual pistol used by Gary Gilmore in 1976 with the Original evidence tag still attached
When Norman Mailer wrote the novel the executioners song he called Orem City
Police department and asked to speak with some of the officers who were involved with
the Gilmore case. Norman was put in contact with Ted Peacock. Norman flew to Utah,
and met in person with Ted Peacock a few weeks later. Norman requested to meet the
motorcycle club known as the Sundowners; because it had been rumored Gary had spent
a large amount of time with the Sundowners. The sundowners had a small club where
West Geneva and vineyard road intersect in a small old warehouse. Ted took Norman to
the club house and introduced Norman to the group. Ted asked Norman how long he
would need, and Norman said about two hours. Ted then left and as he walked out to his
car he realized Norman Mailer was walking behind him. Ted asked Norman if he had
forgotten something, and Norman replied “I thought you were going to stay down here
with me “. Ted said he stayed with Norman in the club house about three hours while
Norman interviewed different people for his Novel. Mailer had utilized letters that
Gilmore wrote, interviews with many of his intimates, trial transcripts, and interviews of
statements that Gilmore gave to the press. In 1982 the movie " The Executioners Song "
was produced, and documented the two murders of Max Jensen in the Orem Sinclair, and
Ben Bushnell the manager of the city Center motel in Provo; both committed by Gary
Gilmore. This blockbuster was no small time movie; the part of Gary Gilmore was played
by Tommy Lee Jones. Gerald Nielsen was played by Rance Howard, and three Orem
police Officers were in the movie playing themselves, Ted Peacock, Terry Taylor and
Toby Bath.
Chief Robert Wadman:
While Chief Wadman was Chief there was now four Animal control Officers, five
Dispatchers, Three Secretaries, five investigators, and three members of the Youth
Bureau. Chief Wadman set crime prevention as his number one goal with an emphasis on
traffic enforcement. Chief Wadmans efforts were honored by the state Of Utah for Orem
having a four year record with out a fatal traffic accident, and also for Orem having the
least amount of traffic accidents per population in the State Of Utah. Chief Wadman
provided an incentive to senior officers to stay with Orem city by promoting senior
officers, and keeping the well seasoned, well trained officers with Orem. Chief Wadman
also changed the patrol shift to a three month rotating shift, to accommodate patrol
officers who would like to attend college with semesters lasting about 3 months. Chief
Wadman developed what he called the “ Orem Plan “ in which he broke the city down in
to smaller areas, and each officer was assigned a specific area. The officers would get to
know business owners and people in the community, and could help them identify with
ways of lowering crime in there area or whatever else concerns they had in that area.
Chief Wadman stepped down as Chief in 1978.
Director Ted Peacock:
Ted Peacock Sept 1978 –
Orem 4th Largest City in Utah
September 1978, after being a Captain for only two weeks Chief Ted Peacock was
appointed to the position of Chief of Police. Ted Peacock immediately made a primary
goal for his department in which he called it community policing. His idea was to create a
partnership with the community by creating such programs as the Orem City Citizens
Academy, and a nationally funded program called D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) as well as officer friendly, and School Resource Officers in each of the High
schools. All of these programs reached out to the public, at all levels of life and helped
the public to understand what the Police Department does, and how it really is to be a
police officer working on the streets. It was also easy to see that police officers, are
people also and Ted wanted the public to understand, and see police in that manner. In
1980 Ted was approached with an idea that had been tried only once before in Orem
City’s history, Ted was asked if he would be interested in being promoted from Chief of
police to Director of Public Safety. Ted was told he would be the single department head
of both the Police Department, and Fire Department for all of Orem City. Ted accepted
the challenge and was named Director Of Public Safety in 1981. Ted then went into
action for his officers, Ted felt if Orem had the highest paid Officers, best medical
benefits and retirement benefits for his officers, and kept the equipment up to date; then
he would have more of a variety of officers to chose from when it came time to hire, and
also he would have a very low turn over. This proved to be true, as Ted Brought Orem
City to the highest Paid Police Department from 1981 to 1995 he had the smallest turn
over for Officers in Orem City’s history. And when Orem did have any opening to test
for new officers, the room was crowded beyond reason with applicants.
Ted then began working on equipment upgrades such as, putting cages in the patrol
cars, added Shotgun racks, switched from Revolvers to Semi Automatic handguns, Built
the firearms range ( above old range ) and required officers to qualify with a score. Ted
also required all officers start taking a Physical Training test to help encourage officers to
stay in shape. Ted then created a shift called 4-10’s. The idea behind this was two have
officers work four days a week, 10 hours a day, and then have the shifts overlap at the
busiest times. Such as Friday nights had a lot of high school football and basketball
games, so swing shifts would overlap on Friday nights thus providing double the man
power to be able to cover these needs. With Saturdays being a big night for people
throwing party’s, grave yards shift would overlap and have double the coverage on
Saturday nights to be able to affectively maintain the city. This shift plan Ted had made,
kept Orem as on of the safest cities in Utah for nearly a decade. One of the reasons for
this accomplishment was Ted had been able to obtain a 911 phone tracer which no one
else had in the county. All 911 calls would come into Orem City dispatch, and the
number was automatically traced. If they were calling from Springville, the number
would still be traced, and the call forwarded to the appropriate agency. Ted also
purchased the AS400 Computerized Report writing system, so that Officers could type all
of there reports, and have statistics pulled from the program.
Ted also started some new programs in the department such as N.E.T. (Narcotics
Enforcement Team) in 1982. The teams’ main focus was working drug enforcement. Ted
then started the Warrants/Transport position in which two officers would transport
suspects from different jails, to the Orem City court. The officers would also go out and
serve warrants issued out of Orem City Court. Ted then took all the positions of
detective and Corporal, and made the positions all Sgt Positions. Ted also started up the
first traffic crew in which, he wanted certain officers to work on enforcing traffic and
traffic related chores as there primary goal. Ted asked that the officers tally where most
the accidents occur, and then document what the main cause was. Then the traffic crew
would go out and work selective enforcement and issue citations at that location. Ted said
the traffic accident report numbers fell drastically after this was started and this proved to
a valuable resource for the citizens of Orem.
Ted sat on P.O.S.T. Council for one year, and also was the President of Public Safety
Directors Association. Ted was the General Chairman of the State Association of Chiefs,
and also sat on the Board of Officers International Association of Chiefs. Ted was also
the President of the Utah Chiefs Association, and Chief of the Central Utah Chiefs
Association.
Ted changed the face of Orem city by Changing the Orem City Police Patch on
Uniforms, and also changing the Orem Police Badge to a round oval with a gold seven
point star in the middle. Ted changed the design on patrol cars, and also started putting
more and more radars in to the patrol vehicles. Ted was awarded the Arthur V. Watkins
award in 1993 for outstanding service in the Orem City Citizens Academy. Ted was also
awarded the Service above Self Award, for outstanding service in 1992. Ted was also
awarded the Outstanding Young men’s Award in 1967 by the jr. Chamber of Commerce.
Ted decided to retire in May 1995 and was well honored for what he had accomplished in
Orem City as he was chief. He was chief for 17 years, the longest time on record of
someone holding that position. Ted was missed as he left the department. Most off the
department referred to Ted as a Cop’s Chief, meaning he didn’t forget about real police
work, and never forgot where he came from. Ted had a total of 34 years of service with
Orem City when he retired. Chief Peacock took great pride in knowing he had left Orem
City Police Department at the very top in his profession.
Director Jay Carey:
March 1995 – May 1997
Director Jay Carey took over for Ted Peacock in March 1995. Director Jay Carey was
chief in Newport News Virginia, and also had worked with the U.S. Department of
Justice where he trained a new national police force for Haiti. Director Carey had
received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University
and a master of public Administration degree from Auburn University. Jay quickly
implemented a Detective Position for the rank of Officer in the Investigations division.
The first Detective assigned to this position was Officer Terry Steele. Jay also changed
the rotating shifts for double coverage on weekends, and decided patrol should bid on the
shift based on there seniority on the department. Jay did try to continue the community
education that Chief Peacock had begun, and also wrote several grants to give the city
more money for more police officers. Most people would say about Jay Carey that his
integrity and his honesty were beyond reproach. Jay Carey really encouraged education,
and this helped Lt. Michael J. Larsen to pursue his master’s degree. In May 1997 Jay
Carey decided that due to some personal family reasons, he would be retiring from Orem
City. Jay left on May 16th, 1997.
Director Michael J. Larsen:
June 1997 – Present
Total population: 84,333
Lieutenant Mike Larsen with Orem City was announced the new Director Of Public
Safety in 1997. In 2001 Director Larsen had a new beautiful Department Of Public
Safety building built in which the department now resides. Director Larsen has started
several new programs in the department such as starting a Neighborhood Preservation
Unit, in which four officers are assigned to keep the city clean, and address continuing
neighborhood issues such as business licensing and zoning issues. For the first time at
Orem Police Department four motorcycles were added to the traffic crew, and three K-9’s
added to patrol. In 2006 the first Honor Guard was developed and made up of five police
officers and five fire division officers. Orem changed from Smith and Wesson Semi
Automatic hand guns, to the Glock handguns in 2006. All patrol vehicles and
motorcycles have been outfitted with lap top computers with internet access and printers.
The N.O.V.A. program which is similar to and replaced the DARE program was also
started under Director Larsen’s administration. In September 2006 Director Larsen along
with most Utah county Chief’s purchased the Spillman Reporting System in which all
reporting is shared between agency’s allowing law enforcement to coordinate more
closely.
Director Larsen also opened up a second position in Detectives for an officer to work
in that position with only the rank of officer in 2006. Director Larsen finished outfitting
all the vehicles with road spikes, and radar units and also purchased the 800 MH radios
for in car use, and hand held. This allowed officers to talk to each other on there hand
held radio’s from all over the state. Prior to the 800 MH it was difficult to talk to another
officer across the city with out getting a broken reception. As the Narcotics Narcotic
Enforcement Team was dissolved; Director Larson oversaw the beginning of the Utah
County Major Crimes Task Force. Director Larsen is Directly over Major Crimes Task
Force which now has an officer assigned to this division from almost every city in Utah
County, including Federal Officers.
As the two thousand and two Olympics became close, Director Larsen gave several
Officers to work Utah Olympic Public Safety Command. Director Larson made sure
Orem would not suffer from the loss of these officers and approved overtime to keep the
department up and running at 100%. In 2002 Director Larson allowed for Officers to now
take their patrol cars home if they lived with in Utah County. Before that time, you had to
drive in a personal car, then switch out in to you patrol car, go to work, and then go back
and switch out to you personal car. This is one of the best benefits an officer can get,
because it makes call out’s from home easier to respond to quickly. A vital change in the
past few years has been Tasers issued to patrol officers in the Department and have
proved to be a resourceful tool.
Director Larsen was president of the Utah Chiefs Association for 2007, and also resides
on P.O.S.T. Council currently to review decertification processes.
Director Larsen has added both the Orem Coin and a New Orem Patch in 2008 seen
below.
Orem Badge and patch gallery:
Orem City Police uniform history:
Left to right: Marshal Arnold Burnigham 1943, Sterling Harding 1948, Victor Christensen unknown date, Herb Aiken, 1965,
Byron Penrod 1964
As an Orem town Marshal, there was no given uniform or required equipment. At the
time what ever the Marshal saw fit to wear as a uniform was acceptable. Marshal Arnold
Burnigham designed his own uniform ( seen above ) and wore it as a town marshal.
Arnold designed the first uniform in Orem Law enforcement history, and this is the only
known picture of him in that uniform. Sterling Harding’s first uniform as chief was a
black button up shirt, black Chicago style police cap, and dark grey pants. There were no
patches on this uniform. Sterling wore his pistol cross draw as seen in the picture above.
Victor Christensen is also photographed in the first Orem Police department uniform,
but this was not a Marshal uniform. It is unknown when the picture of Victor was taken,
due to there being no record of Victor working on the Orem police department. Orem
later made a change to pink tan shirts, and pink tan pants. Orem wore this uniform until
1975 when it switched to the popular LAPD blue uniform. Orem currently still wears the
LAPD blue uniforms, and recently changed to new patches on the uniform in January
2008.
The reason Orem had so many different badges during the 1940's and 1950's, and on
in to the early 1960's was the department would order badges in a batch of 15 - 20 badges
at one time. What ever company was selling the cheapest badges, was the company Orem
would purchase from. Orem would purchase an order for new badges about every 2
years. There were nine different badge style’s Orem wore during the 1940's, 50's and in
to the 60's. Also due to a shortage of metal during this time period, a good majority of
badges were melted down to make new badges. The first police badge (not including the
marshal’s badges) was a silver badge, about 2.5 inches in height with a small silver five
point star in the center. All Orem badges are shown above, in chronological order.
Orem Current rank badges are shown below, along with current hat and hat badge and
shoulder patch as well as current challenge coin. .
References: A Very Eligible Place: Provo and Orem, An Illustrated History, An Illustrated
From sagebrush to Steel, Utah Peace Officer Standards and
Training 20 years of service History book, Sterling Harding, Gerald Nielsen, Toby Bath,
Clyde Weeks jr, Rex Skinner, Ted Peacock, Larry Lunnen.
History, It Happened in Orem,
tdwallace@orem.org