Former police chief Fred Ross said the move was in his “best interest personally and professionally.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fred Ross is photographed at the Salt Lake County Sheriff Candidates Forum in Sandy, Thursday Aug. 3, 2017. Ross resigned from his role as Provo’s police chief over the weekend. He was first appointed to the role in November 2021.
Provo has a new acting chief of police following the apparent sudden resignation of Police Chief Fred Ross on Sunday after less than a year on the job.
Mayor Michelle Kaufusi appointed Capt. Troy Beebe, a 24-year veteran of the Provo Police Department, as the acting chief in an early Monday announcement to the department, according to a news release.
In a statement, Ross didn’t cite specific reasons for his resignation, which was effective immediately, other than saying that the job had “been determined to not be sustainable.” He was appointed to the role in November 2021.
“After discussing this with my family,” Ross continued in the statement, “I’ve determined it is in my best interest personally and professionally to resign my position as chief of police, effectively immediately. I sincerely thank you for the honor of serving you, the department, and the people of Provo.”
Beebe, the newly appointed acting chief, also served five years with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office in addition to his two dozen years with Provo police, according to the news release.
“Provo is the community I grew up in and where I’ve chosen to serve professionally,” Beebe said in a statement. “We will move forward doing what we do best: community policing and crime prevention.”
‘Nothing negative to say’
(Provo City Police Department) Capt. Troy Beebe of the Provo Police Department was appointed as acting chief of the department on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, following the apparent sudden resignation of former Police Chief Fred Ross.
During a phone call Monday afternoon, Beebe told The Salt Lake Tribune he had “nothing negative to say about Chief Ross, and I respect his decision.”
In a statement Monday, the mayor said “it became important to unify the department quickly” after accepting Ross’ resignation.
“Captain Beebe has deep roots to our community, as well as invested time within this department,” Kaufusi continued. “We appreciate his willingness to bring his skills and knowledge as we seek a smooth transition.”
Throughout his Provo police tenure, Beebe has served in all divisions of the department, including working as a patrol officer, patrol captain, special operations captain, bomb squad commander and school resource officer, he told The Tribune.
He also served on the Utah County major crimes task force for almost eight years, he said.
Ross previously served as chief of the Utah Transit Authority Police and deputy chief of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Further details about his resignation were not released immediately Monday. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
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