Chris in the News
Top Articles
‘Civil’ servant: Chief Chris Burbank strives to build relationships with community, do what he believes is right | Deseret News, December 2011
“Anytime a police officer shows up, we should make the situation better.”
Elijah McClain’s death reflects failures of White, suburban police departments | The Washington Post, September 2020
“There is connection between those methods and the racial disparity we see so clearly now.”
The Double Standard for Policing Capitol Rioters and BLM Protesters | Bloomberg, January 2021
“There is a tremendous disparity in how we treat people and what we as the people believe should be done with different groups when race is involved.”
Utahn of the Year: Police Chief Chris Burbank | Salt Lake Tribune, December 2011
“My job is not to be popular. My job is to do what’s right.”
Buffalo is latest mass shooting by gunman wearing body armor| AP News, May 2022
“Body armor itself isn’t inherently dangerous and is in fact aimed at protection.”
Legal questions mount amid San Francisco rape kit DNA case | LA Times, February 2022
“The question is not ‘Can we do that?’ The question should always be ‘Should we do that?’”
White US Police Union Bosses Protect Officers Accused of Racism | The Guardian, June 2020
“You realize that your community values are not being represented at the top.”
Experts Fear Smaller Cities are Ill-Equipped to Handle George Floyd Protests | U.S. News & World Report
“We have now grabbed the attention of America.”
Police carry out complex choreography in responding to campus protests: ‘You need decisive action’ | ABC News, May 2024
“It’s a complex social situation that requires conversation, coordination, and accommodating free speech.
Additional articles
Salt Lake City police eliminate captain positions to add new mayor-sanctioned ‘commanders’ | Salt Lake Tribune, August 2024
“Having managers on the ground making decisions tends not to work well because they’re making decisions on what’s best politically in the long run.”
Officers, former chief demand answers from SLCPD related to handling of dead body | Fox 13, August 2024
“This is about the trust and confidence that the public has in the police department to do the basic job that they’re assigned to do.”
Sangamon County Sheriff defends hiring of Sean Grayson. Experts say he was negligent and missed read flags | WGLT, August 2024
“The two most important things you can do as a police chief is hire people and fire people. those are the only two things you have control over.”
State Lawmaker blasts DCFS response to officer who was fired | KUTV, July 2024
“If a police officer failed to report something that they observed that they believed was a dangerous situation that would be an offense that you would terminate for.”
Preparing security for an event like the Republican National Convention | KSL NewsRadio, July 2024
“You put everything in place to minimize the potential impact… and then, you prepare for what may come, right, if something out of the norm comes.”
Springville officer fired after making allegations of sexual harassment, police misconduct | KUTV, May 2024
“We have a problem in the policing profession, women are treated unfairly, period end of discussion.”
Utah woman sues West Jordan police over alleged rights violation following hotel arrest | KUTV, January 2024
“Not only is it appropriate, it is mandatory for you to get involved and change the circumstances when you see actions that are either unjustified or, in fact, against the law.”
University of Utah Police hanging up their nightsticks for long-range tether wrap | KSL NewsRadio, November 2023
“We need to improve and reduce the encounter, as opposed to make it less painful for someone.”
2News Investigation prompts statewide change that requires new agreements for offenders | KUTV, October 2023
“What we’re trying to do from a legal standpoint is prevent harm to society.”
Was FBI justified in killing Utah man who threatened Biden? | KSL News, August 2023
“The rhetoric, the hatred in the country… is going to result in the loss of life somewhere in our country, if not at this very second or an hour from now.”
SLC Police to change protocol for information requests | KSL NewsRadio, May 2023
“The question then becomes what are you doing or how are you prioritizing that resource you have?”
Ogden police investigating punches thrown by officers captured in bystander video | KSL News, April 2023
“He’s lying on the ground; an officer is kneeling on him. And they repeatedly punch him? That is unacceptable.”
Quick actions of Nashville officers saved lives, former Utah chiefs say | KSL News, March 2023
“Complacency is the architect of our downfall.”
Details still unclear following Farmington police shooting | Fox 13, March 2023
“It is the responsibility of the government to tell the public what we engaged in.”
Former police chiefs says incident with topless fans at Utah game is ‘not a policing issue’ | KUTV, September 2022
“They were asked, they complied, the situation was over and done with.”
Despite training, SLCPD stands over a stabbing victim instead of giving first aid | Fox 13, August 2022
“If the elevator closing is so important, pull the person out.”
Document discrepancy casts further doubt into handling of deadly DUI crash | KUTV, July 2022
“The fact that that made it to the court, that’s misconduct.”
UHP handling of DUI suspect who killed mother, son raises questions of special treatment | KUTV, July 2022
“From an evidentiary standpoint, that’s a huge mistake to make.”
SLC files motion to dismiss lawsuit in police shooting of teenage with autism | KUTV, March 2022
“We should be held accountable for our actions.”
New report shows Utah violent crime is up from 2019 – but down from 5 years ago | Salt Lake Tribune, October 2021
“In America, we’re supposed to calm things and make it better. Not making it worse by inciting fear.”
‘The Longest Shadow’: 9/11 leads to the militarization of US police departments | ABC News, September 2021
“Absolutely there’s bias. Absolutely there’s racism. And we can start to talk about some of these things.”
After remains found, questions arise over justice in Gabby Petito’s death | Fox 13, October 2021
“You want to provide a little closure to that family. To at least say, ‘This is what we believe happened, and where it happened, and when it happened.’”
Former SLCPD chief gives insight on Petito/Laundrie investigation | Fox 13, September 2021
“While we should judge them and we should evaluate what they’re doing, we also need to allow them to do what they’re doing.”
Despite protests and promises, SLC is behind on rebuilding police budget | KUTV, May 2021
“I just don’t know why it needs to grow exponentially. I’m not seeing any change in how the city approaches policing, and that’s reflected in the mayor’s budget proposal.”
Former police chief says proposed reform doesn’t go far enough | KSL TV, April 2021
“We need to look at the totality of the circumstances. Why is it immediately necessary?
New body camera ordinance has stopped SLCPD from showing incidents that end peacefully | Fox 13, April 2021
“The idea is, ‘Here’s everything that goes on.’”
What’s the difference between a taser and a gun? | ABC4, April 2021
“We are missing the boat on police reimagining and reform.”
Video: The 9-minute encounter that rocked Minnesota and the world | Pioneer Press, March 2021
“It’s now to say, ‘All right, here’s the new standard, and we’re going to train you differently.’”
Community rallying support for Provo Police officer shot in the line of duty | ABC4, February 2021
“Family members are often hyper cared for and sometimes too much, and officers and friends realize there might need to be some space there.”
Cities Say They Want to Defund the Police. Their Budgets Say Otherwise | Bloomberg, January 2021
“The divide is significant and ‘very difficult to repair.’”
How the Capitol Insurance Should Have Been Handled, According to Police Leaders | Bloomberg, January 2021
“Why were there not more people set up in place that you would normally do if you have advance notice?
Former police chief explains what officers might be thinking hours before planned protest | KUTV, January 2021
“The most important thing is you’re preparing your entire staff, and this is not just officers that are going to be on the front line who absolutely need that preparation, but people taking calls in dispatch center.”
What’s in the Salt Lake City 2021 ‘crime control’ plan? | KUTV, January 2021
“The work that we do for the center for policing equity is you go in and evaluate what are the police doing that is causing a bias outcome.”
Body cam video in Ahmaud Arbery shooting raises familiar concerns about unequal police treatment | The Washington Post, December 2020
“You see that play out in what I view as apathy, almost, from the police in their approach to it.”
SLC Police Chief, Former Chief Address Shooting Of Teen With Autism | KSL TV, September 2020
“It is time to change the rules, change how we do business and change how we instigate this.”
Ketamine That’s Injected During Arrests Draws New Scrutiny | AP News, August 2020
“I always go back to why are we doing the business that we’re doing.”
Why Homicides Are Spiking in U.S. Cities | U.S. News & World Report, August 2020
“This pandemic is so ubiquitous, its effects are so ubiquitous that it’s really hard to put your finger on it.”
Lawmakers Examining Utah’s Use of Deadly Force Laws | KSL TV, July 2020
“It doesn’t change the standard that you can use force whatsoever, what it does is it changes the consideration that goes into using it.”
Does Utah’s use of force law need to change? | KUTV, July 2020
“It is about putting in place legislation, policy, and then practice that prohibit conduct that leads to disparity in outcomes of policing.”
Former police chiefs weigh in on ‘hands off’ protest strategy | KSL TV, June 2020
“And so just having them stand there, right as soon as you put on riot gear, what you saw across the country, that just says throw rocks and bottles at us.”
Utah law enforcement leaders call for reform, not defunding | Deseret News, June 2020
“Changing the bias of individuals is hard. Changing policy, changing practice is easy, and in most cases can be done by the police chief alone.”
Former SLC Police chief urges ‘rapid change’ to policing nationwide | KUTV, June 2020
“Now is the time for quick, rapid change.”
KSL Investigators explore 2012 Ogden officer-involved shooting that led to law changes | KSL TV, May 2020
“There’s just nothing good about the circumstance. It really does represent a failure of our entire society when this happens.”
Testimony before the United States House of Representatives | Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, April 2016
“What then should the role of law enforcement be? This is a deceptively tricky question.”
With change in tactics, SLC police stop driving homeless to jobs | KUTV, November 2015
“Those 25 people (the officers) were getting job for were not committing crimes, they were not drunk, they were earning a wage.”
Salt Lake City top cop defends Obama on immigration | Salt Lake Tribune, January 2015
“If we stand apart from our community as opposed to being a part of our community, it fuels mistrust.”
MLK Day march protests police, NAACP honors them | Salt Lake Tribune, January 2015
“The reason we don’t have the problems you see in other parts of the country is by building relationships just like this.”
Chief, D.A. push for home visiting program to break cycle of incarceration | Deseret News, December 2014
“Once it turns into a law enforcement problem, then it’s far too late.”
Burbank’s time as police chief: drug sweeps, shootings and diplomacy with protesters | Salt Lake Tribune, June 2014
“I’m not a politician. I am a public servant and have always been proud to be a public servant.”
Utah innovators, visionaries, earn ‘Enlightened 50’ recognition | Salt Lake Tribune, June 2014
Chris Burbank, Salt Lake City Police Chief | KCPW, December 2013
“Policies requiring police officers to act as immigration enforcement agents would damage trust among immigrant communities, lead to racial profiling, and would not necessarily reduce crime.”
Standing united at the International Transgender Day of Remembrance | The Globe, November 2013
“One of the things is to make sure that every member of our community no matter what their background feel welcomed and they feel equally protected.”
White House invites Salt Lake police chief to talk gun control | Salt Lake Tribune, January 2013
“It’s the responsibility of every police chief and every politician to say, ‘How can we stop this violence.’”
Salt Lake police chief meets with Obama to talk gun control | Deseret News, January 2013
“We need to look for reasonable solutions and limit our exposure to these risks.”
The racial frisk: profiling a concern in Utah | Voices of Utah, April 2012
“We need the interaction and involvement of everybody.”
Hearing on H.R. 3808, the “Scott Gardner Act” | Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, March 2012
“It is vital that legislation and laws target and address the root problem, not ancillary
circumstances of a specific isolated situation.”
See Something Say Something Act of 2011 | Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives, June 2011
“Public order and community well-being are the responsibility of every citizen in the neighborhoods we serve.”
Salt Lake City unveils ‘donation meters’ to help homeless | Deseret News, April 2011
“The ‘more courageous’ thing for people to do is look for ways to change their own behavior in hopes of fixing the problem.”
Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank receives YWCA award | Deseret News, October 2010
“I’m very honored to receive it.”
Hearing on Racial Profiling and the Use of Suspect Classifications in Law Enforcement Policy | Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, June 2010
“Limited language skills are not indicative of criminal behavior.”
Police Chiefs Slam Arizona Immigration Law: ‘It’s Very Divisive’ | ABC News, May 2010
“As you look in our Latino communities, they are not responsible for committing more crime in our communities.”
Salt Lake City police chief pleased with DC immigration meeting | KSL, May 2010
“It creates a class of victims who are afraid to report crime, afraid to participate.”
Salt Lake chief of police broken in quickly | Deseret News, August 2006
“Am I giving them all the resources they need to solve this in the most effective manner?”
Family, Friends Apologize to Police in Destiny Case | KSL News, July 2006
“We spent many many hours, countless hours, looking for a healthy girl.”
Family and Friends Heartbroken, Outraged Over Destiny’s Death | KSL News, July 2006
“Our focus should be not allowing this to happen to another child in our community.”
New Salt Lake police chief is sworn in | Deseret News, April 2006
“This truly is a vote of confidence from all involved that I take very seriously.”
