New North Park Police Chief excited for the future of the agency

North Park Police Chief Ulysses Black

NORTH LOGAN — After serving for months as interim chief of the North Park Police Department, Ulysses Black has been announced as the new chief of the agency. He replaces Chief Jeff Simmons, who served only briefly before returning to Logan City Police Department last year.

Black said he is very excited about the appointment and the future for law enforcement in North Logan and Hyde Park. He now leads the department that has 10 officers, after recently hiring two new replacements, returning their agency to a full staff.

“I’m looking forward to continuing the service to the community at the highest level and that we are responsive to the needs of the citizens,” said Black. “I’m looking forward to the future of the North Park Police Department and the officers that we have working here with us, and watching all of those guys grow.”

Black graduated the police academy in 1994 and was first hired as an officer with the Willard City Police Department. He later moved over to the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a deputy until 2001, when he joined the North Park Police Department. He served as a patrol officer until 2008, when he was made an investigator.

Black said he has seen tremendous growth in both cities during the past 19 years and that trend is expected to continue. He hopes that his appointment will bring some stability to the department as it also continues to grow.

“We have two communities that are full of amazing residents and that are very supportive. We enjoy our interactions probably 99 percent of the time with them. There is only a few times when you have that truly negative interaction.”

The department has grown from two officers in the 1980’s, as the amount of crime has increased. Last year the department responded to 6,983 calls and conducted 2,456 traffic stops. That included a murder in November, resulting in the arrest of a suspect who is currently awaiting trial.

Black said they are seeing an increasing amount of crime between the two cities. The rate though isn’t abnormal, as the area continues to see residential and business growth.

“We are obviously going to get busier. The needs of our citizens is going to become more. Unfortunately, people take advantage of the citizens and commit crimes against them, whether it be vehicle burglaries or residential burglaries. I think that just comes with the growth and we’re not unique as an area. I think you’ll see that anywhere you look that has this kind of growth.”

Black was offered the chief position January 10 after the police commission, made up of local citizens, interviewed five candidates. Final ratification will take place this week as he appears before each city council for final approval.


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