JACKSON/TETON COUNTY (WY) - POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT

• NCJ Number: 32322
• Author(s): L J DUNBAR; D L NORRGARD
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 20 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-015-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Public Admin Service
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT, DATED AUGUST 31, 1972, STUDIED THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A CONSOLIDATED COUNTYWIDE POLICE FORCE TO SERVE THE 4,823 TETON COUNTY RESIDENTS AND THE 3,500 RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF JACKSON.

Abstract

TETON COUNTY, IN NORTHWESTERN WYOMING, HAS AN AREA OF 2,873 SQUARE MILES. TOURISM IS THE COUNTY'S PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY. IT IS NOTED THAT 97 PERCENT OF THE LAND WITHIN THE COUNTY'S LIMITS IS UNTAXABLE, SINCE IT IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE FORM OF NATIONAL PARKS AND FORESTS. SIX AGENCIES HAVE VARYING DEGREES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TETON COUNTY. THE TWO LOCAL AGENCIES ARE THE TETON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT (POLICE STRENGTH OF 7 SWORN OFFICERS) AND THE JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT (POLICE STRENGTH OF 12). THE DUTIES AND OPERATIONS OF THESE TWO AGENCIES ARE DESCRIBED. OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH TETON COUNTY ARE DESCRIBED AS WELL, INCLUDING THE WYOMING HIGHWAY PATROL, THE U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND THE U.S. NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS A PRIMA FACIE CASE FOR CONSOLIDATION OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT - IF ONLY FOR THE SUSPICION THAT 75,000 ACRES OF TAXABLE LAND IS PROBABLY NOT A SUFFICIENT TAX BASE FOR TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES - THE CONSOLIDATION OF THESE TWO AGENCIES IS NOT ADVISABLE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT CONSOLIDATION WOULD REDUCE LAW ENFORCEMENT COSTS, AND THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WOULD RESULT IN IMPROVED LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFECTIVENESS. OTHER OBJECTIONS TO CONSOLIDATION ARE OUTLINED AS WELL.