Utah Valley has a plethora of resources that help keep students safe and comfortable. Standout examples include the Emergency and Crisis Services, which helps students with their physical and mental health, to Equity and Title IX, a place where any and all sexual harassment incidents are reported. All these resources are vital to student health and safety, but there’s another resource on campus that takes an active role in student safety.
The UVU Police Department provides the UVU grounds with needed security for us on campus. They are responsible for responding to any crime committed at the university. Jeff Long, the current Chief of Police, reported that crime is exceptionally low in Utah, and that he’s grateful that Utah Valley University has remained a very safe place for students to be. Long was hired as Chief of Police mid-December 2024 and has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement. His career has allowed him to work on many different cases, including as a detective in various sex crime cases. When asked, Long stated that cases pertaining to sexual harassment were among the most difficult he has worked on, but that the reward of solving it was well worth it, as it allowed him to put many perpetrators behind bars, and bring a sense of safety to the victims of those crimes.
Long went on to talk about sexual harassment, and while the numbers at UVU are very low, they aren’t zero, and they can still happen. Long remarked that he notices a knowledge gap with students in regard to sexual harassment, what it really is and what actions we can take should we find ourselves in a situation where sexual harassment can happen. Long encourages Wolverines to seek training and knowledge regarding sexual harassment so that we as a community can be more prepared for situations that may arise, as the chances are never zero. The UVU Police Department does keep a crime log that is public and easily accessible to students through their website. Additionally, for those who are interested in the crime logs of their residence, a request can be filed through the Orem City Police or the police department of their city.
The UVU Police department is here for all of us, and like Chief Long, they are experienced, and out here on campus to help any student in need. They are available 24 hours a day and can be easily reached by students through a simple phone call.
UVU Police: (801) 863-5555 of GT 331
Orem Police Department Information Request: (801) 229-7209 or policerecords@orem.gov
