Kirk security chief says promised rooftop police coverage never happened in Utah shooting

OREM, UTAH: Two months after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed during his September 10 appearance at Utah Valley University, the conservative leader’s security director says the tragedy exposed a series of preventable failures in how the event was secured.

Brian Harpole, a veteran law enforcement officer and founder of Integrity Security Solutions, said his team repeatedly warned authorities about the exact vulnerabilities that later enabled the fatal shooting. Harpole detailed the breakdowns during an interview on The Shawn Ryan Show.

“We were told the roof was covered,” Harpole said. “The chief said, ‘I got you covered.’ I took him at his word… and no one was up there.”

Brian Harpole says team flagged rooftop access and elevated sightlines before shooting

According to Harpole, his security team spent nearly two weeks coordinating with Utah Valley University ahead of the event. They warned campus police that the open-air venue was surrounded by elevated structures with multiple rooftop access points.

“Three meters to the right or 10 to the left and there is no shot,” Harpole said. “That’s how precise the angle was.”

He said his team specifically identified stairways that led to roofs overlooking the stage.

Integrity brought 12 contractors, nearly double its usual staffing, but jurisdictional limits restricted the team to a tight perimeter around Kirk.

“Our responsibility stopped at the bubble,” he said. “We can’t make arrests or block student buildings. That’s law enforcement’s job.”

Brian Harpole says police drone and SWAT support were never requested

Harpole also claimed the Orem Police Department, which operates both a drone unit and a SWAT team, later told him they were never asked to assist, despite an existing mutual-aid agreement.

His own team tried to deploy drones for aerial monitoring but was denied authorization because of FAA rules and campus restrictions.

“This is Utah, not Iraq,” Harpole said. “We couldn’t put snipers on roofs or launch drones. We did what we could within the rules.”

Past security failures shaped Harpole’s warnings at Utah event

Harpole recounted earlier Turning Point USA events where law enforcement support proved inadequate, including one in San Francisco where protesters breached barriers.

“We knew how fast things can go bad,” he said. “We asked for more eyes, more coverage. We were told it would be handled.”

Integrity constructed double presidential-style barricades, vehicle hard barriers, and multiple security zones, but Harpole said those efforts could not compensate for missing rooftop overwatch.

State investigation continues as Utah Valley University conducts review

The Utah Department of Public Safety has confirmed its State Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal probe. Prosecutors have charged Tyler James Robinson, 22, with capital murder and intend to seek the death penalty.

Utah Valley University officials say a comprehensive third-party review is underway.

“The analysis will be made public once complete,” the university said, calling the findings essential to improving campus safety.

The university says it is now hiring eight additional police officers and two new security managers.

Brian Harpole says speaking out aims to prevent another tragedy

“Just show the facts,” Harpole said. “If mistakes were made, fix them so it never happens again.”