SUU Police Department swears in 5 new officers, nearly doubling force

CEDAR CITY — Southern Utah University Police Department saw five new officers sworn in last week, a move that nearly doubles the size of their force.

Closeup of a Southern Utah University Police patrol vehicle, Cedar City, Utah, July 25, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

SUU Police Chief Carlos Medina said the department’s staffing went from five sworn officers to its current total of nine, which includes himself and two lieutenants. One of the new officers is filling a recently vacated position, he explained.

At the July 25 swearing-in ceremony held in a building adjacent to the SUU Police station, the following officers took the oath of office: Osualdo Fuentes, John Hill, Kasen Lassen, Marshall Gunter and Jacob Jackson.

Three of the officers — Hill, Lassen and Gunter — are transfers from Cedar City Police Department. Jackson is fresh out of police academy training.

“Each of them brings something different to the table,” Medina said shortly before administering them the oath of office.

SUU takes a lot of pride in its police force, Medina added, thanking SUU President Mindy Benson for her support.

Although SUU’s police officers may not be teaching students in class, Medina noted: “We are helping them out in the field. We’re helping them when they’re in their time of need. We’re helping them when they make mistakes. We are here to help educate.”

Tiger Funk, SUU vice president of campus operations, said afterward that two additional officer positions have been factored into next year’s budget.

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