Within its ranks, Draper Police Department has its own Special Victims Unit (SVU), a specialized branch focused on cases involving vulnerable or high-risk victims including children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. “Draper is a safe community, but we do have significant, sometimes major crimes,” Draper Mayor Troy Walker said.  

 Draper’s SVU is made up of two award-winning detectives, Bryce Okland and Anna Adrignola. 

 Okland was named 2025 Officer of the Year by the Utah Chiefs of Police Association for his work on a child abuse case. “When he gets a case against children, he does everything to try to find justice for these victims,” Draper Police Chief Rich Ferguson said.  According to Ferguson, Okland was recognized because of his tenacity, his investigative skills, and because he trusted his gut instincts to advocate for young victims.   

 The Draper City Council recognized Okland for his Officer of the Year award at an April meeting. He received a standing ovation among those in council chambers as well as handshakes, hugs and pats on the back from his fellow officers. “He is very deserving of the award. He’s done tremendous, amazing work,” the mayor said. 

 Okland has been an officer for 14 years, five with Draper P.D, and two and a half of those years as an SVU detective. He has also received the Meritorious Service award and the Distinguished Service Award. In addition to his work for Draper’s SVU, he’s a member of the Officer-Involved Critical Incident protocol team and the South Valley Crisis Negotiation Team.  

 Okland’s SVU colleague is an award-winning detective in her own right. Adrignola has been investigating SVU cases for three years. She has worked with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and was awarded their New Officer of the Year in 2023. She received an Outstanding Service Award from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office for her work with the Multi-Disciplinary Team in 2023. She’s also been recognized for her contributions to Holly’s Home, a Draper-based organization that helps young women transition out of polygamy.  

 In April, Adrignola received the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Award from the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She’s also been honored with Draper’s Salute the Blue Award in 2021 and was named Draper Officer of the Year in 2022. “She is an invaluable asset to the Draper Police Department and the city is fortunate to have her investigating these delicate cases,” Okland said.  

 The two dedicated Draper SVU detectives are aided by an internal investigative unit with additional detectives when needed. “We also have an incredible Victim Advocate, Rachel Miller, who provides essential support to victims of all crimes,” Okland said. The city has had a detective assigned to SVU-related cases for more than 10 years. For the past five years, two detectives have been assigned to these difficult cases.  

 Because of the sensitive nature of the work, SVU detectives go through specialized training. According to Okland, both he and Adrignola have received training in advanced sexual assault investigations, trauma-informed victim interviewing, and forensic interviewing.  

 In the year 2023, Okland said he and Adrignola investigated 223 cases, screened 51 cases with the District Attorney’s Office, one case with the Attorney General’s Office, and one case with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “As SVU detectives, we handle highly sensitive cases including rape, sexual assault, voyeurism, lewdness, child sexual abuse material and child abuse,” he said.   

“It’s always nice when members of our department are recognized for the professional work they do. We are fortunate in Draper to have two of the most skilled, dedicated and compassionate detectives who represent our most precious citizens, our children. I am proud of Detectives Okland and Adrignola. They represent our department well,” Ferguson said. 

“We are well-served in our community for sure,” Walker said.