Longtime Draper police officer Pat Evans was promoted to captain in June and four of his colleagues were also promoted within the Police Department.  

“This is the first captain position in Draper Police Department history. It leaves him second in command of the department in my absence,” Chief Rich Ferguson said.

Evans has been a member of the Draper PD for 21 years and an officer for 24. He started as a cadet in Sandy where he became an officer before coming to Draper. Through the years, Evans has served in many roles including patrol leutenant and oversight of detectives and child abduction cases. He’s also served as public information oOfficer for the PD. 

Draper Mayor Troy Walker praised Evans’s promotion. “Pat is a fantastic police officer, exactly the kind of person you want to see in that job. To me, Pat embodies the Draper PD. He’s been here so long and has been a part of it all. This promotion couldn’t have happened to a nicer or more dedicated Draper officer,” Walker said. 

As captain, Evans is a division commander overseeing patrol, the biggest division within the department with the most officers. He also oversees special services, the department that handles records and reports for prosecution, GRAMA requests, etc.

“Pat stood out because of his internal knowledge of operations within the department. He knew how we got to where we are today and why we did certain operations the way we do that are unique to Draper. He’s very good at managing systems and projects and instrumental in putting things together. He’s well-respected within the police community and has a strong network within the Utah law enforcement community. He is president of the Utah chapter of COPS, an organization that steps in when an officer is killed in the line of duty to assist the family in navigating everything. That includes getting the family to Washington, D.C. when their loved one’s name is placed on the Law Enforcement National Memorial wall. He has a strong network with the citizens of Draper and a strong commitment to community-based policing efforts,” Ferguson said. 

Ferguson, who has been Draper’s police chief for two and a half years, is a proponent of promoting from within whenever possible. “It’s critical for any organization that you develop the people within to take on bigger roles and move up,” he said. 

Prior to being captain, Evans was a lieutenant. His promotion started a ripple effect of advancements within the police department. After 17 years with Draper PD, Matt Coe was promoted to lieutenant. Hobie Young and Cory Smith were promoted to sergeant. Nate Banry was promoted to a new lieutenant position overseeing training, compliance with state and federal requirements and research and development on equipment and tools necessary to the department. “He can also do internal affairs investigations,” Ferguson said. 

The city’s recent tax rate increase for funds toward public safety has helped Ferguson’s police department in many ways. 

“Despite all the challenges with recruitment, we’re fully staffed. There’s a strong desire to come to Draper to work as a police officer because of the support of the community, the mayor and the council. As our community continues to grow, we’re laying the foundation for this department to continue to be one of the finest departments in the state. It’s a pleasure to serve in a community that values its police. That’s the thing we value the most, the partnership we share with our community in keeping quality of life high in Draper,” Ferguson said.