After conducting a nationwide search, Dixie State University has selected Blair Barfuss as the institution’s new director of campus security and chief of the Campus Police Department.
“All of us here at Dixie State University are excited to welcome Chief Barfuss to campus,” DSU President Richard “Biff” Williams said. “He has an impressive background of dedicating himself to protecting the residents of Utah, and I am confident he will be very successful in leading the Campus Police Department in maintaining the safety of the Dixie State campus.”
Barfuss, who has been a Utah state certified police officer since 2001, comes to Dixie State from the West Valley City Police Department.
“I am excited and honored to work with the great men and women of the DSU Police Department and for the privilege to serve and protect the students, staff, faculty and community of Trailblazer Nation,” Barfuss said. “The future of DSUPD is exciting. Additional staffing, training, agency certification and enhanced community engagement are only a few of the goals we are progressing toward.”
Since joining the West Valley City Police Department in 2005, Barfuss most recently served as the lieutenant training unit commander in the Administrative Operations Bureau, where he directed all departmental training. Additionally, since 2016, Barfuss has served as a special agent/task force officer in the Child Exploitation Task Force of the FBI. In this role, he investigated federal crimes involving distribution and manufacturing of child pornography and worked undercover online to investigate cases.
An FBI National Academy graduate, Barfuss earned a master’s in human resources with an emphasis in organizational management from Utah State University, a bachelor’s in criminal justice administration from Columbia College and an associate degree from Brigham Young University–Idaho.
As campus police chief, Barfuss will lead the DSU Police Department in protecting the freedom of individuals and maintaining a peaceful and safe environment in which students can attain their academic, career, social and life goals. As members of the accredited state police agency, DSU officers patrol campus in addition to monitoring footage from the more than 500 cameras situated throughout campus.
“DSUPD is here to help make your time on campus enjoyable,” Barfuss said. “Our mission is to provide an environment that promotes a feeling of safety and security on campus.”
