Two months after the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, his security director, Brian Harpole, has laid bare the preventable security failures that contributed to the tragedy. Harpole, who co-founded Integrity Security Solutions, told ‘The Shawn Ryan Show’ that his team had repeatedly raised concerns about crucial security gaps, including rooftop exposure, drone restrictions, and staffing shortages, which were allegedly overlooked by law enforcement.
“We were told the roof was covered,” Harpole said. “The chief said, ‘I got you covered.’ I took him at his word.” Despite the potential risks, the team relied on the police for oversight, but no additional officers were stationed on the rooftops. Harpole said he had previously encountered similar threats at other high-profile events, such as a Turning Point USA appearance in San Francisco, where protesters had breached barriers, forcing the security detail to fight their way out with limited police assistance.
“We’ve seen it before,” he said. “In San Francisco, we had a street takeover, people climbing fences, our exit routes compromised. We knew how fast things can go bad.” These experiences shaped his urgent requests for additional officers and aerial support in Utah, but he said the police were never asked to assist despite a mutual-aid agreement between Orem Police Department and the security team.
Harpole explained that Integrity Security Solutions brought 12 contractors to the event, nearly double its usual staff, but due to jurisdictional limitations, the team could only cover a radius of about 30 meters around the stage. “Our responsibility stopped at the bubble,” he said. “We can’t make arrests or block student buildings. That’s law enforcement’s job.” This meant the team had no authority to monitor the rooftops, which became a critical issue during the shooting.
The tragedy has intensified scrutiny on the security measures at universities, with Harpole warning that the lack of clear lines of authority and communication led to a textbook case of unaddressed vulnerabilities. “This was a textbook example of what happens when lines of authority aren’t clear,” he said. “We couldn’t act outside our jurisdiction, and the people who could didn’t.” His team had built concentric zones, double barricades, and used vehicles as hard barriers behind the stage, but those measures couldn’t compensate for the gaps in police coverage.
The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed that its State Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal inquiry alongside the Utah County Attorney’s Office, and prosecutors have charged Tyler James Robinson, 22, with capital murder in the shooting, intending to seek the death penalty. UVU officials have acknowledged the incident and said an internal review of the shooting and security procedures is ongoing, aiming to implement new safety protocols and expand campus police staffing to prevent such incidents in the future.
“The comprehensive and independent third-party analysis will be made public once complete and will provide valuable insights into improving safety and security on college campuses,” UVU stated in a released memo. The university also emphasized its commitment to hiring eight new officers and two security managers to enhance oversight and support for campus events.
Harpole said his decision to speak publicly was about ensuring that lessons are learned from the tragedy at Utah Valley. “Just show the facts,” he said. “If mistakes were made, fix them so it never happens again.” The incident has underscored the need for more robust security planning, especially in areas like campus events where multiple agencies and jurisdictions are involved. With the ongoing third-party review, UVU aims to strengthen its security measures and prevent similar incidents from occurring on college campuses across the state.