Snyder Approved As Top Cop

By Cathy McKitrick, The Salt Lake Tribune

Jan. 11–SOUTH SALT LAKE — The City Council’s unanimous consent Wednesday to the appointment of Chris Snyder as this community’s new police chief drew hearty applause and a standing ovation from the audience gathered at City Hall.

Since former Chief Beau Babka vacated the position in early January to become undersheriff to newly elected Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder, Snyder filled the slot as interim chief.

And now the title and job are all his.

“I started here when I was 21,” Snyder, now 37, told city officials and the crowd of about 60 fellow officers and firefighters. “I’ve seen a lot of changes. I feel like the stars are aligned and it bodes very well for the community.”

Council members joked about who they would see more often on TV — Snyder or his wife Robin, who is a detective and public information officer with Salt Lake City’s police force.

During his 16 years with South Salt Lake’s police department, Snyder served four years with the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force, was a member of the SWAT team, investigated white collar crime and helped to train the public order unit for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Snyder also managed the internal affairs unit, recruitment and hiring and served as public information officer. In July 2006, he was promoted to assistant chief under Babka, a strong advocate of community-oriented policing.

“We might tweak a few things internally but the major changes have been made in the last year,” Snyder said. “The department’s direction and vision will pretty much remain the same.”

His appointment came with a letter of support from the city’s chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police — the rank and file of the department.

“My officers don’t work for me,” he said simply. “I work for them.”

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