By Erin Dixon | [email protected]

Earlier this year, Lehi city officials installed a “Safe Exchange Zone” sign outside their police headquarters. This is a safe space in the parking lot  for individuals to meet and exchange online sales, or have any interaction that would be best with police supervision. 

This inspired some residents to ask for a similar sign in West Jordan. 

“It started from a Facebook post back in March; a resident posted about Lehi providing a safe zone and asked if West Jordan would consider providing,” West Jordan City Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock said. “I sent a screenshot of the post to Police Chief [Ken] Wallentine and asked if we could do this. At the time, his response was not terribly positive. He indicated Lehi had more officers and could have someone watch the cameras, and we didn't have the staff. Fast forward, and we are informed that the city will be providing a location for an exchange zone with camera coverage.” 

The sign is located on 8040 South Redwood Road, in front of the West Jordan Police Department building. 

“Layton City has this too, and it's great!” Resident Tiffany Wilhelm said. “It also has surveillance, so people can rest assured if anything crazy goes down that they have something backing them up (which may not be the case if you just met in the police parking lot without a designated area).”