Security Failures at Charlie Kirk's UVU Event Exposed by Investigators and Former Security Director

Investigating the Security Breakdown

Questions continue to emerge about how a security incident occurred at Charlie Kirk's event at Utah Valley University. The university's president announced increased security measures, but UVU has remained relatively silent about the specific details of the security plan that was in place prior to the event. An investigation has revealed perspectives from two men with inside knowledge about the gaps they observed in the security setup.

Ryan Deere, an attendee at the event, expressed his concerns about the lack of visible security measures. "I thought there would be a security checkpoint, maybe a bag check," Deere said. He also wondered in the moment whether anyone was monitoring the rooftops, stating, "I didn't see anybody."

Minimal Security Presence for Large Crowd

UVU confirmed that the event was staffed with only six university police officers, plus two additional officers in plain clothes, for a crowd of 3,000 attendees. A university spokesperson stated that Kirk's team selected the outdoor central location and claimed they "verified our security posture for the buildings, making sure people aren't on the roofs."

Comparison to University of Wyoming Event

Josh Holland, chief of police at the University of Wyoming, provided insight into how his institution handled a Charlie Kirk event in April. The Wyoming event, held indoors, had stricter requirements for attendees. "No bags, no weapons, no signs, anything like that," Holland explained. Despite having a smaller crowd of 1,800 people, the University of Wyoming staffed the event with 15 officers, including both campus police and officers from a local partner agency.

"I have the advantage of having 2020 hindsight," Holland noted, highlighting the benefit of learning from past security incidents.

Former Security Director Weighs In

Greg Schaefer, the former Turning Point security director, pointed to critical lessons that should have informed the security planning at UVU. He referenced the Las Vegas massacre in 2017 as a pivotal moment for the private security industry. "That changed the paradigm for private security. You got to think about snipers. Okay, that was 2017. Then you have 2024 and you have two attacks on President Trump. Both snipers," Schaefer explained.

Schaefer observed that while guards were positioned close to Kirk at UVU to prevent a close-range attack, the overall security presence was insufficient. "Period," he emphasized, adding that more officers were needed along with dedicated surveillance of nearby rooftops.

Shifting Security Priorities

"That's always been the main threat is somebody getting in the inner circle and attacking Charlie. Okay, you're not necessarily thinking about those long distance shots," Schaefer said, explaining how security priorities have had to evolve in light of recent events.

Lack of Multi-Agency Coordination

In Wyoming, campus police coordinated with other local agencies to increase manpower for Kirk's event. Investigators asked whether similar coordination occurred at UVU. The Utah County Sheriff's Office confirmed they were not involved until after the shooting occurred. UVU police have not responded to inquiries about their coordination efforts.

Record requests have been filed for detailed information about UVU's security plan for the event.