Blair Barfuss will assume the position of the Utah State University Department of Public Safety chief of police on July 5. Photo courtesy of Utah State University.
LOGAN – After four years as chief of police at Utah Tech University (Dixie State) Blair Barfuss was named Friday to the same position at Utah State University.
Chief Barfuss, a native of Boise, Idaho, emerged from a list of three finalists for the USU job, including Danielle Croyle of the South Salt Lake Police Department and John Sherman who recently relocated to Utah following retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Barfuss holds a master’s degree in human resources from USU’s Huntsman School of Business and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
“This Aggie is beyond excited to have the honor and privilege of getting to work with and support our Utah State University students, staff, faculty, administration and our great Aggie community,” Chief Barfuss said.
He will assume the position July 5, reporting to Michael Kuehn, the executive director of USU’s newly restructured Department of Public Safety. Kuehn is a former USU police chief.
“Chief Barfuss brings a wealth of experience to USU,” said Kuehn, “particularly in areas of concern that receive a great deal of attention in higher education: student mental health and sexual violence. Under Blair’s leadership, Dixie State was one of the first campuses to embrace the ‘Start by Believing’ campaign to support victims of sexual violence.”
USU has participated in the Start by Believing campaign since April 2018.
The chief of police serves as a primary resource and adviser to the university on matters related to law enforcement and is responsible for the comprehensive operating of the university’s police department.
Prior to his work in St. George Barfuss served in the West Valley City, South Jordan and Midvale City police departments. He is cross deputized as a federal agent with the FBI and has worked for the past seven years as a member of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.