Monticello names UHP trooper Chief of Police

Clayton Black has been hired as the new Monticello Chief of Police. Black is a Monticello resident who has served for the past three years as a patrolman for the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) in addition to working the previous 13 years with the Sandy, UT Police Department.
Black is expected to begin work within the next few weeks, after he completes his work with the UHP. Black has broad experience at Sandy City and the UHP, including patrolling, SWAT experience, domestic violence and undercover work, narcotics investigation and firearms instruction.
Black is a Blanding native, graduating from San Juan High School in 1993. He is the son of Naida and Clisbee Black. He and his wife Shanna are the parents of four children.
The new chief seeks to rebuild a police department that has been decimated by a recent controversy involving an officer. Cole Young was terminated as an officer after he was charged with felony burglary following a December 4, 2015 incident.
Kent Adair, who served as Chief of Police for nearly 34 years, was placed on administrative leave and eventually terminated by the Monticello City Council in early January, in part because of the incident.
As a result, there has been just one city police officer in Monticello since early December. Other law enforcement agencies, including the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and UHP, have been helping to cover shifts in Monticello.
Black was selected from more than a dozen applicants. The list of applicants was initially cut to five before a hiring committee interviewed three possible candidates.
The hiring committee included Monticello City Council members Sanford Randall, Nathan Chamberlain, Blaine Nebeker, and George Rice; in addition to Mayor Tim Young; City Manager Ty Bailey and Blanding City Police Chief Jason Togerson.
The hiring committee said the ideal candidate would have extensive law enforcement experience, a vision for the future of the Monticello Police Department, and a college degree.
Mayor Young said that after the interviews were completed, an offer was extended to Black on February 10 and he accepted the following day.
Black said he is excited about the new position and looks forward to rebuilding the department.
Mayor Young said Black has a good vision for the future. “He was very clear about building strong relationships with other law enforcement agencies, and establishing clear objectives for the officers and the department.”
The police department is under the supervision of Ty Bailey. The chief is appointed by the mayor at the direction of the City Council.
The council is expected to officially approve the appointment at the next council meeting.

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