In 2024, Midway contracted with the Heber City Police Department to put two officers on patrol in the town, mostly for traffic and parking enforcement.
The contract replaced the previous system of having the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office respond to 911 calls and tasking city employees with day-to-day code enforcement.
Now, two officers are dedicated specifically to Midway during the day shifts, seven days a week. At night, the sheriff’s office is responsible for responding to calls.
At Midway’s strategic retreat Thursday, Jan. 30, Mayor Celeste Johnson said the feedback from residents has been mostly positive.
“Law enforcement – we’re into it,” she said. “We have cars, we have an incredibly dedicated officer, we’re getting weekly reports that are so easy to read compared to what we used to get.”
And she said Heber Police Chief Parker Sever has been helpful and responsive as the program has gotten underway.
Other councilmembers said they were glad to see the same officer consistently, building relationships and becoming an established part of the town.
Councilmember Craig Simons said though he sees the benefits, he also has concerns about the higher costs to Midway.
Simons asked why the town had to pay two entities for a similar level of service.
“You have two people beating each other up, you call 911. We’re paying the county to do that,” he said. “Now we’re paying Heber to have a presence – we’re still paying the county.”
He also said the sheriff's office has had a more visible presence in Midway since the contract with Heber began.
“I think it’s great we have a presence, I think it’s wonderful what they’re doing – that’s not my point,” he said. “It bugs me to see the great job these guys are doing, and then all of a sudden, bam, you can’t drive into Midway without seeing a sheriff. Now, where the hell was that before? And why do we have to pay a half million dollars for you to pull your head out of wherever it was?”
He argued Midway shouldn’t have to pay so much for dispatch services.
For fiscal year 2025, Midway budgeted $500,000 for law enforcement, including about $439,000 for its contract with the Heber police and $45,000 for 911 dispatch services.
That dispatch fee is up from about $25,000 in fiscal year 2024.
