Utah Valley University Shooting Sparks Security Review as Charlie Kirk’s Protect Team Chief Calls for Better Safeguards
Two months after Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University, his security director Brian Harpole has publicly criticized the security coordination and response, stating that the tragedy exposed significant flaws in how the event was secured. During an interview on ‘The Shawn Ryan Show,’ Harpole, a veteran law enforcement officer and founder of Integrity Security Solutions, detailed how his team had repeatedly raised concerns about rooftop exposure, drone restrictions, and staffing shortages in the days leading up to the Sept. 10 incident.
Harpole recounted that despite his team’s repeated requests for additional security, especially given a prior incident in San Francisco where protesters had breached barriers, the police were not deployed to cover the rooftops that provided clear lines of sight to the event area. He emphasized that the police had told them that the rooftop was covered, but the reality was that no one was actually monitoring the elevated areas. This lack of coverage, combined with jurisdiction, limitations, left critical vulnerabilities in the security plan.
He said that Integrity Security Solutions, which was responsible for the event’s security, had brought 12 contractors to the event, nearly double its usual staffing, but were confined to a 30-meter radius around the stage. The Utah State University police, which had access to drones and a SWAT unit, had not been consulted for aerial support despite a mutual aid agreement. Harpole argued that the failure to secure the rooftops and the lack of drone support left the event exposed to potential threats.
Additionally, Harpole highlighted the importance of understanding the event’s environment, noting that the student stairways leading to the rooftops offered precise angles for an attacker. Despite the team’s efforts to establish concentric zones and use vehicles as barriers, the gaps in police coverage left the event vulnerable to the tragedy that followed. Harpole concluded that the lack of clear lines of authority and the failure to take proactive measures were significant contributing factors to the incident.
Following the incident, the Utah Department of Public Safety has confirmed that the State Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal inquiry alongside the Utah County Attorney’s Office. They have charged Tyler James Robinson, 22, with capital murder and are considering the death penalty. UVU officials have announced an internal review of the shooting and security procedures is ongoing, with a commitment to integrating the findings into its safety protocols for future campus events. UVU is also hiring additional police officers and security managers to strengthen oversight and support for campus events.
In response to the security breakdown, the university has initiated an independent third-party review to ensure that all lessons learned are implemented effectively. UVU officials emphasized that their ongoing analysis will guide new safety policies and staffing expansions aimed at strengthening campus event security across Utah’s higher education system. This commitment reflects a broader effort to address the vulnerabilities that contributed to the tragedy and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, discussions about the incident continue to fuel public scrutiny and calls for greater accountability in event security. Industry experts and law enforcement officials are also examining the broader implications of the incident, particularly in the context of high-profile campus events. These discussions underscore the critical need for clearer lines of authority, better coordination between private security and law enforcement, and comprehensive reviews of security protocols to ensure that such events are prepared for all possible contingencies.
Conclusion
The Charlie Kirk assassination at Utah Valley University has sparked a widespread conversation about the challenges in securing large public events, especially those hosted on college campuses. As the university and authorities work to implement new safety measures, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough preparation, collaboration, and oversight in ensuring the safety of attendees. The hope is that the lessons learned from this tragedy will lead to meaningful reforms that protect future events and prevent such an outcome from occurring again.