FILE PHOTO -- University of Utah Police Lt. Brian Wahlin talks to members of the media outside of the South Medical Tower on the University of Utah campus about a search for a shooting suspect in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah President Ruth Watkins has announced an independent investigation into its campus police department and its handling of complaints made by late Lauren McCluskey against her ex-boyfriend and killer Melvin Rowland.
Police consultant and retired detective Justin Boardman says investigators will walk through the department’s protocols, step by step.
“Depending on what they find, maybe it’s in written policy, more than likely it’s not, and it’s just a matter of being consistent with the training,” says Boardman.
Boardman says reviews like these typically reveal different ways police could have handled situations.
“If there were any places that we missed or maybe next time we could do better. A lot of times things are identified that we didn’t even think about before,” Boardman says.
President Watkins has not disclosed when the review is to start or which agency will conduct it, but she says she has faith in the campus police department.