University of Utah chooses ex-public safety commissioner to head up campus security

Keith Squires, former head of the Utah Division of Public Security, was named Wednesday because the College of Utah’s new chief security officer.

College of Utah

The previous head of the Utah Division of Public Security has been chosen to turn out to be the College of Utah's new chief security officer.

The Salt Lake Metropolis college introduced Wednesday that Keith Squires' appointment to the place grew to become efficient Jan. 1. He had been serving as interim chief security officer since April.

"We're happy to have such a seasoned public security government lead our campus security initiatives," College of Utah President Taylor Randall stated in a ready assertion. "Keith Squires brings a wealth of expertise to this necessary job — each from his a few years as Utah's commissioner of public security, in addition to his time serving to to construct our newly reimagined College Security Division."

Squires replaces Marlon Lynch, who grew to become the U.'s first chief security officer in 2019. The place was created following the on-campus homicide of scholar Lauren McCluskey as a part of a variety of public security reforms. The chief security officer oversees the U.'s police division in addition to campus safety. Lynch left the college in March to turn out to be the vice chairman for public security and chief of police at Michigan State College, his alma mater.

Lynch employed Squires in July 2020 as his government officer.

"I am honored to proceed main the College Security Division," Squires stated in an announcement. "This work includes going past historic policing. With the modifications we're implementing, college security operations have gotten a part of a holistic, clear and strategic effort that permits us to work genuinely with our campus neighborhood in creating an setting the place everybody can really feel secure with a way of belonging. I am assured that our continued improvements will reveal effectiveness and assist function a mannequin for others."

Along with being the previous Division of Public Security commissioner — which oversees the Utah Freeway Patrol and State Bureau of Investigation — Squires' expertise consists of being a homeland safety adviser to 2 Utah governors, and dealing as an area legislation enforcement adviser to U.S. Director of Nationwide Intelligence James Clapper.

He retired from the Division of Public Security with 31 years of legislation enforcement expertise in 2018. Squires was additionally a part of the three-member panel that performed an investigation into whether or not the College of Utah Police Division may have performed extra to forestall McCluskey's dying.