In the wake of the September 10 shooting that resulted in the death of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, at Utah Valley University, the institution has faced scrutiny regarding its handling of public records requests. The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, is at the center of this investigation.
Blaze News, like many concerned individuals, sought clarity about the safety protocols established prior to the TPUSA event where the tragedy occurred. This concern was amplified when Kirk’s former head of security, Brian Harpole, indicated in a podcast that the UVU Police Department, led by Chief Jeff Long, may have neglected necessary security measures leading up to Kirk’s death and subsequently fell silent on the issue.
Harpole criticized the amphitheater’s exposure and claimed that local law enforcement was not adequately coordinated to ensure enough officers and resources like drones were available, particularly given the anticipated attendance.
In a documented exchange, Harpole mentioned security concerns about “roof access” two days before the incident, but Chief Long’s response was reportedly dismissive: “I’ll protect you.”
Frustration with UVU’s Response
Following the tragic event, Harpole encouraged filing public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act for all communications from Chief Long on state-issued devices. Acting on this suggestion, Blaze News found itself met with resistance.
On November 24, Blaze News submitted a FOIA request, specifically looking for Long’s messages from September 3 to September 11, 2025. This request was denied on December 4, citing the absence of required personal information from Blaze News.
It’s worth noting Blaze News has an active GRAMA account with UVU; however, the timing of the records remains uncertain.
Blaze News has since reapplied for records, and despite UVU claiming various “extraordinary circumstances” requiring extensions to the request, responses have been slow. By mid-March, the news outlet received a scant 14 heavily redacted messages, which largely lacked substance. One notable exchange on the day of the shooting indicated a lively atmosphere but offered scant security information.
Despite UVU providing several extensions for their response, they ultimately refused to release messages from Long’s phone, justifying this by claiming that the passage of time since the incident rendered the search too burdensome.
To search for text messages, personnel must individually review each thread and determine whether the content is public, which UVU argued would intrude on their everyday duties.
Blaze News has questioned the validity of UVU’s reasoning, emphasizing that Long’s messages are presumed public unless exempted under GRAMA guidelines. In the end, they received merely a handful of screenshots that didn’t shed much light on the situation.
Concerns Over Transparency
Additional outlets have resonated with Blaze News’s frustrations regarding UVU’s limited disclosure related to Kirk’s murder. Reports indicate that suspect Tyler Robinson and his legal team backed UVU’s decision to withhold security plans as part of the ongoing investigation.
KSTU noted the unusual circumstance of a murder suspect intervening in a public records matter while still maintaining that UVU’s lack of transparency isn’t entirely out of character within public records processes. The Daily Caller previously reported substantial redactions in their own requests to UVU surrounding the same incident.
Leadership Response to Tragedy
Chief Long joined UVU Police as Deputy Chief in 2022 before being promoted to Director in late 2024, earning over $125,000 in taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits within that year. His leadership has come into question following the killing of a widely-known activist.
Hours after the shooting, Long publicly expressed his devastation, calling it “a police chief’s nightmare,” and acknowledged the challenges in ensuring safety despite extensive training protocols.
Since then, Long has not commented further on the situation. Harpole implied that, given the circumstances, Long holds considerable accountability and should openly address these lingering inquiries. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t own this,” Harpole remarked. “He has seen plenty of people lose their careers over less.”
