The Davis County Sheriff’s Office maintains a historical connection to the public safety landscape of Clearfield. According to the Clearfield Police Department website as of June 10, 2020, Kelly Bennett began his career in public safety in 1994, during which time he worked as a dispatcher for both Clearfield City and the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. This early career role placed him within the county's dispatch infrastructure before his subsequent advancement through various ranks within local law enforcement.
While the Davis County Sheriff’s Office operates at the county level, the Clearfield Police Department manages municipal law enforcement and community safety through several specialized divisions. As of June 10, 2020, the department's organizational structure included a Command Staff, an Investigations division, a Patrol Division, a Records Division, and an Administrative Services division. The department also maintains a Business Office that operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during major holidays. For communications, the department provides 24-hour dispatch services.
Community engagement and specialized services are central to the department's operations. The department offers a Tip A Cop program, which allows residents to report criminal or suspicious activity. According to the department's website as of June 10, 2020, respondents to this program are encouraged to provide names and phone numbers, though they may choose to leave information anonymously. Additionally, the department provides an Autism Awareness Enrollment program. This voluntary enrollment is intended to help law enforcement, EMS, Fire, and other emergency responders communicate and interact with individuals with autism. According to the department's website as of June 10, 2020, submitted forms are entered into the Clearfield Police Department Records Management System and are accessible by the Clearfield Dispatch Center. The department recommends that this form be updated yearly so first responders have current information when handling emergency and non-emergency situations.
The department also manages various administrative and judicial processes. For example, the department issues citations that require appearance in the Clearfield Justice Court. According to the department's website as of June 10, 2020, a defendant issued a Clearfield Police Department Uniform Citation or Information and Summons to Appear is required to appear in the Clearfield Justice Court not less than five nor more than fourteen days after the issuance of the citation, or as directed by the court. Failure to appear may result in the court issuing a warrant for arrest. Residents have the option to pay citations in person at Clearfield City courts or through an online system.
Kelly Bennett's career trajectory illustrates the various roles within the local law enforcement system. According to the department's website as of June 10, 2020, Bennett was hired by the Clearfield City Police Department in 2003 as a detective assigned to manage the Clearfield City Dispatch Center and coordinate the Crime Free Housing Program. He was promoted to corporal and transferred to the patrol division in 2005. He was subsequently promoted to sergeant in the patrol division, and in 2010, he transferred to the detective division. In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and oversaw the patrol, records, and code enforcement divisions. By June 2017, he was promoted to the rank of assistant chief.
What this means for Clearfield
For Clearfield residents, understanding these structures clarifies how county and city agencies overlap. While the Sheriff's Office serves the broader county, the Clearfield Police Department manages local matters like municipal citations and specialized community programs like Autism Awareness Enrollment, ensuring local responders have the necessary tools for effective communication during emergencies.
