UVU Security & No Drones
Official and mainstream reporting places zero preventive drone overwatch under UVU campus police on September 10, 2025 — even as TPUSA media later admitted a production drone flew and military ISR aircraft appear in ADS-B logs nearby. This page anchors the documented security gap; it does not resolve who else may have flown UAS.
What UVU deployed
Per AP coverage cited in project research and the master investigation file:
- Six campus police officers (~one quarter of the department) assisted with crowd control and event oversight,
- Led by Chief Jeff Long,
- Mandate described as perimeter monitoring, not thorough rooftop/building inspections that might have detected a shooter position,
- "Engaged no drones" for the event.
UVU operates a campus drone program for other purposes; commentators stress it was not applied as a protective measure that day.
TPUSA security narrative
Brian Harpole and Tyler Bowyer framed university denial as reason TPUSA security had no drones — while media later admitted a B-roll flight (TPUSA Production Drone). Security_Team pages document wider perimeter and counter-sniper gaps (perimeter failures, no counter-snipers).
Post-incident news drones
Reuters and other outlets used drones after the shooting to film the rooftop position and empty campus — news gathering, not prevention. Do not conflate with pre-event security UAS.
Open records questions
Citizen investigators filed FOIA-style requests (status varies) for:
- FAA authorizations or TFRs over UVU Sept 10,
- Campus police communications about drone policy that day,
- Third-party operators (TPUSA, contractors, military).
Charlie Kirk Investigation Laws disclosure targets include who received drone feeds and airspace authorizations.