University Department of Public Safety

As Chief Safety Officer of the University of Utah, Keith Squires is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all campus safety initiatives, as well as supervising the university's public safety divisions. He served in Governor Gary Herbert’s cabinet as the Utah Commissioner of Public Safety, retiring in September 2018 after 31 years of service as a law enforcement officer. He served as the homeland security advisor for Governors Huntsman and Herbert. Keith has served the state in many other capacities, including as director of the State Bureau of Investigation, assistant superintendent of the Utah Highway Patrol, and director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Keith served as a state and local law enforcement advisor to U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. He holds a master’s degree in homeland defense and security from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a bachelor’s degree in administration of criminal justice. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and FBI National Executive Institute.

Executive Director of The Violence Prevention Project Research Center, forensic psychologist, professor of criminology and author of The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic

 

Dr. Jillian Peterson is a forensic psychologist, professor of criminology at Hamline

University, and previous investigator on death penalty cases in New York City. She is

the co-author of the highly acclaimed book, The Violence Project: How to stop a mass

shooting epidemic, based on four years of in-depth research into the lives of mass

shooters. Dr. Peterson believes the best way to prevent violence is to deeply

understand the life histories of people who commit it. She is currently the Executive

Director of The Violence Prevention Project Research Center.

 

She has interviewed perpetrators of murder in Cook County Jail and Rikers Island, and

perpetrators of mass shootings across the country, leading her to an understanding of

the root cause of violence and how we can address it. She is the co-founder and co-

president of The Violence Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center dedicated to

reducing violence using research and analysis.

 

Dr. Peterson’s areas of expertise range from mass shootings and violent crime, to

holistic violence prevention, crisis intervention and de-escalation, and promoting mental

wellness in schools and workplaces. Dr. Peterson holds a MA and Ph.D. from the

University of California, Irvine. She is a regular media commentator in outlets like the

New York Times, National Public Radio, CNN, and The Washington Post.

Trell Inzunza, MBA-HC, BSN, RN serves as the Senior Nursing Administrator for Inpatient Services at University of Utah Health, where she leads inpatient operations and fosters collaborative relationships with ancillary partners. With a background in critical care nursing, she has dedicated over 16 years to the institution, focusing on nursing quality, clinical staff education, and critical care leadership.

In response to the increasing incidence of healthcare-related violence, Inzunza collaborated with key stakeholders to develop a Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) and a de-escalation training program for staff. The BERT program has received national recognition for significantly enhancing staff safety.

Before joining University of Utah Health, Inzunza served for 23 years as a Navy Corpsman in the United States Navy. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Utah, cooking for friends and family and traveling as time allows.

Dr. Chris Linder is Professor of Higher Education and founder and Director of the McCluskey

Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Utah. Chris’s research examines sexual

violence among college students with a specific focus on better understanding those who cause

harm. She takes an abolitionist approach to her work, focusing on the ways that collective

healing can prevent violence. Prior to becoming faculty, Chris worked as a victim advocate for

10 years. Her work is praised for being clear and accessible to practitioners, not just

researchers. In her spare time Chris runs ultramarathons and practices her cooking skills to be

on Top Chef in her next life.

FBI Special Agent Curtis Cox is a 2010 graduate of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.  After working in private practice in Utah for approximately five years, SA Cox entered on duty with the FBI in 2015.  After completing training at the FBI Academy, SA Cox was assigned to the Las Vegas Division, where he investigated white collar and health care fraud matters and was a member of the SWAT Team.  In 2017, SA Cox transferred to the Phoenix Division, Gallup Resident Agency.  In Gallup, SA Cox worked violent crimes on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation in northeast Arizona.  SA Cox transferred to the Salt Lake Division in January 2021 and is a member of the Violent Crimes/Crimes Against Children squad.  His responsibilities include investigating crimes involving minor victims and proactively identifying and arresting those who would do harm to society’s most vulnerable members.

Glen Kraemer, a founding and managing partner of the employment and higher education law firm of Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP, is nationally recognized for his passionate delivery of “best practices” training programs. Glen has devoted significant time and energy to: (1) workplace and campus violence prevention, identification, and response, (2) understanding and responding to sexual harassment, discrimination, and workplace bullying, and (3) investigations for employers concerning internal discrimination, harassment, and wrongful discipline complaints. He is a longstanding member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, is a frequent speaker at its annual Threat Management Conference, and currently serves as legal counsel to several Fortune 500 threat management teams and higher education behavioral intervention units. In addition to serving for over a decade as General Counsel to Pomona College, Glen is currently working as legal counsel to Anita Hill's Hollywood Commission, advising on legal and practical responses associated with #MeToo legislation. In 2011, Glen was chosen as a “Top Labor and Employment Lawyer” by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals, and from 2005 – 2024 voted a labor and employment “Super Lawyer” by fellow members of the California State Bar. Glen is included in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers, and for the last eight years Chambers USA has ranked Glen as a top California Labor & Employment Law attorney.

Jarad Ringer, LCSW, is currently a Staff Clinical Social Worker at the University of Utah Counseling Center (UCC). Jarad joined the U’s McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention (MCVP) in a full-time role duringthe Fall 2023 semester, and worked in partnership with UCC and other campus and community partners in an effort to develop and provide mental health services and interventions for students who have caused or are at risk for causing harm through sexual violence. During the Fall 2024 semester, Jarad transitioned from his role at MCVP to a full-time staff member role at the UCC, which included an expanded focus on providing mental health services and mental health program development for students who are struggling with the use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in addition to providing general mental health services for U students. Prior to joining MCVP and UCC, Jarad worked in private practice as well as with the SafeUT program at The U of U Health Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI).

 

Jarad received his BA in Political Science from Rutgers University in 1999 and his MS in Social Work from Columbia University in 2002. Jarad is originally from NYC and has worked in various settings and has several areas of expertise, including work with LGBTQ+ communities and violence prevention, addiction and mental health treatment, harm reduction services, and higher ed work experience, which includes being a previous Adjunct Faculty member at the Columbia University School of Social Work. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, art, music, and searching for the best pizza in SLC.

Special Agent Jason Merrill joined the FBI in February 2011.  His first assignment was the

Cincinnati Division, Dayton Resident Agency, where he investigated violent crimes and gangs

before becoming a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.  In 2015, Jason transferred to the San Diego Division, Imperial County Resident Agency, where he investigated public

corruption and narcotics matters along the U.S./Mexico border.  In 2017, Jason transferred to

FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he utilized his law degree to work as an

Adjudicator in the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility for 18 months.  Jason next

transferred to the Seattle Division in 2018 where he worked as Associate Division Counsel until

2020, when he transferred to Salt Lake City as the FBI’s Chief Division Counsel.  In March

2024, Jason became FBI Salt Lake City’s Civil Rights Coordinator, and in this role, he

investigates Civil Rights matters throughout Utah.

Drew Yeates has served as a federal prosecutor since 2007. Prior to his federal practice, Drew served as a deputy city prosecutor and a deputy district attorney. He currently serves as chief of the criminal division. Drew has prosecuted to conviction an array of federal criminal offenses including assorted gun crimes, hate crimes, robberies, racketeering conspiracy, international parental kidnapping, sex offenses, tax offenses, and drug conspiracy wiretaps.

Monica previously served as a police officer in Las Vegas, Nevada before working as an

intelligence analyst with the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center. She has an extensive

academic and professional background in national and international security and a working

knowledge of current and emerging threats to the public and law enforcement. During her time

as a commissioned police officer she worked in intelligence, specializing in crime trend analysis

and sought creative ways to combat crime and other challenges within the community. As an

analyst, she served as a subject matter expert on domestic extremism working with law

enforcement and private sector partners to prevent mass casualty incidents as well as school

related violence.

 

She obtained high honors as a student athlete at San Diego State University where she double

majored in Public Administration and International Security and Conflict Resolution. She’s lived

in both Germany and Switzerland for many years where she earned a master’s degree in Global

Studies from the University of Lucerne - focusing on international law and counter terrorism.

Having worked at the United Nation’s for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

in Geneva, Switzerland she brings a unique global perspective to the Major Cities Chiefs

Association.

Paul Timm, Director of Education Safety at Allegion, is a board-certified Physical Security Professional (PSP). He is the author of “School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program” and the host of “The Changing Face of School Security” podcast. Paul was named one of the Most Influential People in Security in 2020 by Security Magazine.

In addition to having conducted more than 2,000 vulnerability assessments and his frequent keynote addresses, Paul is an experienced School Crisis Assistance Team volunteer through the National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA). He serves on the Campus Safety Conferences Advisory Board, the Advisory Council for the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, the ASIS International School Safety and Security Community, and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Risk Management Committee.

Paul is certified in Vulnerability Assessment Methodology (VAM) through Sandia National Laboratories and the ALPHA vulnerability assessment methodology. Paul holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Moody Theological Seminary.

Chief Matt Pennington has served as a police officer since 2004, beginning his career with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office where he worked as a deputy sheriff in patrol until he left in 2007 to join the South Jordan Police Department. During his time with the South Jordan Police Department Chief Pennington worked in the Patrol Division, the Traffic Unit as a motor officer, the Investigations Division as the sergeant, and was a member of the South Valley SWAT team from 2008 – 2018 and 2021 – 2023, holding positions of Scout, Team-leader, and Commander. He was the Division Commander of the Special Services Division, where he oversaw the department’s Training, School Resource Officer, and Traffic Units. In addition, he was tasked with planning security around the city’s special events. He previously was the Division Commander of the Patrol Division and the Investigations Division. In addition, Chief Pennington was one of the department’s Public Information Officers for over 8 years. In January 2024, Chief Pennington was appointed as the first Utah State Security Chief by Commissioner Anderson with the Department of Public Safety, where he is responsible for overseeing safety and security for schools and other infrastructure statewide.

Chief Pennington has received numerous awards throughout his career, including; multiple Letters of Commendation and Excellent Work Awards, the Supervisory Excellence Award, a Distinguished Service Citation for his work helping Jordan School District implement a new violence action plan for staff and students, a Multi-Unit Citation for his involvement in the MicKenzie Smith kidnapping case, a Life Saving Medal, and two Officers’ Cross medals for the actions he took to prevent a possible active shooter situation at the Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple on Christmas day 2010, and for confronting an armed gunman in a South Jordan neighborhood in 2020.

Chief Pennington holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology with a certificate in Criminology and Corrections from the University of Utah, a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership and an MBA from Western Governors University. In addition, he is a graduate of the FBI Command College and is certified as an instructor for Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (C.R.A.S.E.) by Texas State University’s Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (A.L.E.R.R.T.) program. Chief Pennington has been a keynote speaker at several conferences, including the 2023 Utah Safety Council Conference, 2022 Utah Violent Crimes Conference and 2021 Utah PIO Conference where he was awarded Communicator of the Year during a Major Incident for his involvement in the Ryan McManigal case from July 2020.

I spent 25 years in law enforcement and started my career in 1990 as a Reserve Deputy for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s before being hired full-time as a Deputy Sheriff in 1991. I retired as a Deputy Chief from the Unified Police / Sheriff’s Office after 25 years in 2015. I received my Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Master of Arts (MA) from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California in Homeland Defense. I completed the FBI National Academy 223 Session at Quantico, Virginia (2005), the FBI Executive Command College (2003) and Utah POST Command College (2003). I’m a professional member of the International Homicide Investigators Association and have completed the Force Science Institute Certification Course. I’m currently an Associate Professor at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), Adjunct Professor at State University New York (SUNY) at Canton in the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. In 1997, I was named the State of Utah’s Deputy Sheriff of the Year by the Utah Sheriffs’ Association. In 2018, I was named the Honorary Sheriff of the Year by the Utah Sheriffs’ Association. Also, I am a member of the Unified Police Department / Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Peace Officer’s Merit Commission.  I am a fourth-generation law enforcement officer (my father is a retired FBI agent, my grandfather was a New Jersey City police officer & fire Chief, and my great-grandfather was a New York City police officer).

Texas native Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans is one of the most decorated female veterans in U.S. history having received the Bronze Star, the Combat Action Badge, and the Purple Heart. She held leadership roles in multiple combat engagements throughout her 27 years in the Army, including overseeing more than 30,000 ground troops in Afghanistan.

In 2006, while serving in Afghanistan, Gretchen’s world changed in a millisecond when a rocket blast caused her debilitating injuries including losing all hearing -- ending her military career.

With the help of her guide dog and her rope team of friends, Gretchen navigated her way through a changed life and adopted a new mission: to advocate on behalf of wounded veterans. In 2019, she founded Team UNBROKEN, a mixed-ability athletic team, competing in races and events all around the world. In 2022, Gretchen received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYS.