As thousands of members gather in Salt Lake City for the 196th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Salt Lake City Police Department has increased security measures in and around meetinghouses and event locations. Additional officers have been deployed, and the department is coordinating with local businesses and partners to respond quickly to any incidents.
The heightened precautions follow a series of incidents over the past year that affected worship sites, including a shooting and arson attack on a meetinghouse in Michigan that killed four people and injured nine others. Other reported incidents included vandalism, property damage and threats at meetinghouses in Idaho, Utah, Alberta, Canada and the Dominican Republic.
Salt Lake City Police Sergeant Josh Ashtown said the department has prepared for the annual event by increasing officers on duty and coordinating with local businesses and partners…