One big thing

As the University of Utah celebrates Pride week March 27 through April 1, officers in the department of public safety will debut a special uniform patch showing support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Why it matters

“Our team has been working a long time on this project to incorporate different patches in recognition of various causes throughout the year that we want to recognize and support,” said Chief Safety Officer Keith Squires. “We want to begin with the Pride patch because of our commitment to making campus a safe place for all students, including those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. It may seem like a small gesture, but it is one that, we hope, sends an important message.”

“We’ve been working on this project for quite some time now, and we’ve incorporated different patches throughout the year to recognize various causes that we want to support,” said Chief Safety Officer Keith Squires. “We want to start with the Pride patch because we’re committed to making the campus a safe place for all students, including those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. It may seem like a small gesture, but we believe it sends an important message.”

Officers will also wear the Pride patches during Pride month in June.

Go deeper

The Pride patch is one of a series of five special patches that officers will wear at various points in the year to show support for different causes and raise awareness for important issues.

In April, officers will wear a patch featuring multi-colored puzzle pieces to honor Autism Awareness Month, and an aqua blue patch to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Autism awareness and sexual assault prevention are two areas the University of Utah Department of Public Safety emphasizes in officer training and community service.

In May, the uniform will feature a patch honoring officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

“Our peace officer memorial patch is our way of honoring the brave men and women who have been lost in the line of duty, as well as the families they have left behind,” said Squires. “The history of the thin blue line represents our position of trust as we serve as the thin blue line between peace and violence.”

In October, officers will wear a purple patch in observance of Domestic Violence Prevention Month.

By making a visible and tangible statement of support for different causes, the U’s public safety department hopes to promote awareness and inclusivity while building a greater sense of trust across the diverse campus community.