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Utah Valley University to Add Police and New Safety Managers After Kirk Shooting

The plan adds eight officers plus two safety managers, leaving the force far below national campus-safety benchmarks.

Overview

  • UVU said it is hiring eight additional campus police officers and two safety managers to strengthen security planning for future events.
  • An AP review found the Sept. 10 event lacked standard safeguards, including rooftop monitoring by drone, coordination with local police, and bag checks or metal detectors.
  • Only six campus officers staffed the event attended by roughly 3,000 people, while Charlie Kirk had an eight-person private security detail on site.
  • UVU reported 23 officers in 2024 and expects just over 30 after the hires, compared with a commonly cited benchmark of about one officer per 500 students; the on-campus student body of about 32,000 would equate to at least 64 officers.
  • The university’s policing budget stands at $2.1 million, slightly below last year’s level, with a state lawmaker saying UVU may reallocate funds as a new task force evaluates school security.