Salt Lake City Police are planning to increase their nighttime presence in the downtown area, following a wave of violent crimes in the past few weeks. The department tripled the number of officers near the Energy Solutions Arena over the weekend, and have no plans to bring that number down. Officials with the department say that 22 officers are now patrolling the streets near the Road Home shelter at night, a stark increase from the usual seven assigned to the area.
Authorities are hoping the increased presence will serve as a deterrent for the rampant drug dealing and violent crimes that have plagued the Rio Grande area over the past few years. In the last couple weeks three people have been killed in the area, prompting calls for action from high profile lawmakers both at the state and federal level.
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