By Carl Fauver | [email protected] 

With an eye on spending more time with his family and on his boat, Unified Police Department Chief Shane Hudson has announced his July 1 retirement after 31 years with the law enforcement agency. 

“I have been very blessed with my family and my career,” Hudson said. “I started as a corrections officer at the Salt Lake County Jail in April 1987. I’ve worked with some great people, but now it’s time for a change.” 

Before his official departure, Hudson was introduced to the Taylorsville City Council, at one of its recent meetings, by the city’s UPD Precinct Chief Tracy Wyant. 

“I have known Shane my entire career and have learned so much from him,” Wyant said. “He has always welcomed honest input from his colleagues. He’s made me a better police officer in many different ways.” 

Chief Wyant began his UPD career (then, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department) in 1997, a decade after Hudson got his start. 

“Shane has been my direct supervisor since I became the precinct chief (in Taylorsville) in July 2012,” Wyant said. “As his retirement date approached, I wanted to be one of the first to honor him in front of the city council because I know others will follow.  He has been a popular leader in the department.” 

Wyant presented  Hudson with a plaque inscribed with some of Hudson’s favorite quotes. He also gave him something to cut a bit of the emotional, nostalgic air. 

“The only major flaw Shane has is that he actually believes baseball is still America’s favorite sport, when we all know it’s basketball,” Wyant added. “So I gave him a basketball medallion to wear around his neck to remind him which pastime is No. 1.” 

Hudson’s love of baseball comes naturally, as he played the game at Hillcrest High School 35 years ago. His connection to Taylorsville also goes back that many years. 

“My half-brother attended Taylorsville High School and introduced me to Michelle when I was a senior and she was a junior,” he said. “I was an ’83 Hillcrest graduate, while she graduated from Taylorsville in ’84.” 

The young couple also made their first home in what is now Taylorsville City. But that was long before incorporation. 

“I have a strong connection to Taylorsville,” = Hudson added. “My Dad still lives here now.” 

And as he departs his post as the third highest-ranking member of the Unified Police Department, Hudson is also quick to tell Taylorsville residents their police protection is in  capable hands. 

“I’ve always had a terrific relationship with [Wyant],” he said. “We don’t always agree, but that’s the way it should be when capable people are discussing ways to do things. I know for a fact though, I can trust him, and he has the residents of Taylorsville as his top priority. Tracy is one of the most outstanding people I know.” 

Hudson said the Taylorsville UPD precinct is so well run — and so strongly supported by the city council and administration — that police officers assigned to the community “never want to leave.”  

“Tracy will give all the credit to others, but he is a great boss who supports his people,” Hudson said. 

Although retiring from police work, Hudson said he’s not ready for a porch and rocking chair just yet. 

“I’m looking to pursue my teaching certificate through the Western Governors University or Salt Lake Community College,” he said. “I’d like to teach high school history and social studies, and maybe coach baseball. 

Hudson has previously been an assistant baseball coach at Riverton High School. He also spent 11 years teaching a criminal justice course at Murray High School.

“The school district let me teach one early morning class and then slip away to report for my normal job,” he said. 

“I’ll really miss Shane,” Wyant said. “But he’s had a very prosperous career and deserves to spend more time with his family.” 

Hudson’s parents, five children and eight grandchildren were all on hand at the Taylorsville City Council meeting to see the law enforcement veteran honored.