SALT LAKE CITY — It didn't take long for Salt Lake City's mayor to name a new police chief.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall on Thursday named Brian Redd, executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections, as her recommendation to replace Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown, whose sudden retirement last week goes into effect at the end of the month.

"Salt Lake City needs strong, decisive leadership that knows our city's unique landscape and the landscape of the state of Utah," Mendenhall said as the two stood outside of her office. "Mr. Redd is that leader."

Redd was appointed by Gov. Spencer Cox to his current role in 2023. He was the vice president of Goldman Sachs' Compliance Division previously and spent 21 years in various capacities at the Utah Department of Public Safety before that.

His appointment is still subject to final approval by the Salt Lake City Council, which is expected to take place on March 4. An interim chief will be named in the few days between Brown's resignation and Redd's confirmation if he is approved by the council.

"It's an honor to be back in Salt Lake City," he said. "I've lived in this community; I've worked here both as a state law enforcement officer and a private citizen on a couple of occasions ... and now I look forward to being here on a daily basis, serving the residents of this amazing city."

Department of Corrections officials told KSL.com that March 4 is also slated to be Redd's final day in his state role. In a statement, Jess Anderson, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, added that he's thankful for Brown's service and looks forward to "supporting (Redd's) efforts in his new role to enhance public safety efforts in Salt Lake City."

A shift in police leadership

Thursday's announcement comes after Brown announced on Feb. 12 he would step down from his role on Feb. 28, retiring after 33 years of service and 10 years as the head of the department. Days later, Mendenhall confirmed she asked Brown to retire while the city grapples with public safety issues brought up by state leaders.

Cox and other state leaders penned a letter to Mendenhall in December, calling on the city to address policing and criminal justice "inadequacies." They wrote that the "ineffectiveness of (the Salt Lake City Police Department) has become glaringly apparent," which led to "escalating public safety challenges" they said they hear about from residents and business owners daily.

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Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown to retire, as city looks for 'next chapter' in leadership

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Mendenhall responded last month, releasing a 49-page public safety plan outlining criminal justice and homelessness reforms that she said need to be implemented at all levels of government to fix the "brokenness of this system." Yet, the city still finds itself at the center of some public safety-related bills going through the Utah Legislature.

The mayor spoke about her decision to hire a new police chief while she was at the state Capitol to oppose a bill that could withhold state funds from cities like Salt Lake City that don't partner with the Utah Department of Public Safety on public safety issues, saying that Salt Lake City's police relationships with other entities were "not as strong as they need to be."

She said Thursday that Redd could be the person to fix it, given his experience working with state police agencies and organizations that kept him in the city.

Mendenhall explained that her decision wasn't meant to be a "signal" to state leaders in response to the letter or proposed legislation. Instead, she said Redd was on a "short list" of people she wanted to bring to her administration "for years," and she reached out to him about the vacancy before exploring a wider search.

"What stands out most about Brian Redd isn't just his experience; it's his ability to bring people together to get things done," Mendenhall said. "He has worked at the intersection of law enforcement, mental health, addiction and homelessness — issues that cannot be solved by enforcement alone."

State leaders gave the measure a glowing review. Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said he believes Redd is "the right person at the right time to lead" the city's police department. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz said he's also thrilled but doesn't know what it will mean for the Department of Corrections.

"He leaves some big shoes to fill," Schultz said. "We're a little bit nervous about that, quite honestly."

A new chapter

While Salt Lake City's overall crime is down 16% after spikes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Redd acknowledged there are still issues that have created a rift in public perception.

The nexus of homelessness, crime, mental health and addiction, as outlined in the city's public safety plan, have become the city's top concern, as have links between cartels and fentanyl. Emergency response times, disciplinary investigations and officer resources are long-standing concerns that the department has dealt with, too.

He said he hopes to build a "culture and trust" within the department that can help it overcome its problems. He added police will look to enforce the law in a "humane and dignified way" that holds those experiencing homelessness or addiction accountable for any illegal actions while also seeking ways to treat their challenges.

But, much like the safety plan, he said that will require assistance from city, county and state entities.

"I'm committed to working with all stakeholders: local, county, state government, social services system, crisis response systems, neighborhoods, communities, individuals, businesses," he said. "We all have to come together to solve these difficult problems in this city."

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