UTPD Enhances Visibility During High-Turnout Outdoor Gathering

Supporting Campus Safety During a High-Profile Speaker Visit

On March 13, 2025, the University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) deployed The RATT during a campus event hosted by Turning Point USA, featuring its founder and conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk. Held outdoors at the HSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) Amphitheatre, the event drew thousands of students and community members, prompting debate, counter-protests, and a need for real-time visibility across a wide-open space.

While no major incidents were reported, UTPD’s strategic use of The RATT—a quick-deploy tactical tower—gave officers an elevated view of crowd activity throughout the event. This allowed for better coordination and response in an environment that could have easily become difficult to manage due to the volume of attendees and potential for escalation.

Managing Crowds and Tensions at a Large Outdoor Event

According to the UT Daily Beacon, the crowd entirely filled the amphitheater grounds. Attendees gathered on all sides of Kirk’s tent, and some students even climbed trees to get a better view of the speaker.

As Knox News noted, the event—organized by the University of Tennessee chapter of Turning Point USA—was among the largest conservative student gatherings in campus history.

With passionate discussions unfolding both on stage and among students, the situation required UTPD to maintain visibility beyond fixed locations and across a sprawling outdoor footprint.

Chief Sean Patterson of UTPD explained, “With a turnout of this size and intensity, it was important for us to extend our visibility across the entire amphitheater area. The RATT gave us a real-time view of the crowd and helped us to keep everything calm and orderly.”

How The RATT Helped Maintain Campus Safety

To support their efforts, UTPD partnered with Critical Tech Solutions to deploy The RATT RQ621 Single-Sensor Mobile Surveillance Tower, a mobile monitoring system designed for flexible, elevated coverage. For this event, The RATT was mounted on a tripod and positioned on the roof of a building near the HSS Amphitheatre. This setup gave officers a high vantage point to monitor crowd movement, walkways, and activity zones across the open-air space.

The RQ621 camera system used at the event featured:

• A 1080p PTZ camera for high-resolution imaging
• 31x optical zoom to focus on distant areas without image loss
• 1,300-foot infrared (IR) capability for long-range visibility in low-light conditions
  

With its tripod-mounted design and advanced camera features, The RATT helped UTPD maintain real-time awareness across a complex environment.

“The RATT allowed us to monitor large outdoor spaces without needing to constantly reposition personnel,” said Chief Patterson. “That gave our officers more flexibility to engage where needed and de-escalate when necessary.”

The unit integrated into UTPD’s existing monitoring systems, allowing dispatch and command personnel to maintain awareness without deploying additional ground units.

Real-Time Monitoring in a Dynamic Campus Setting

With activity spilling out in all directions from the amphitheater, The RATT gave UTPD a centralized way to track crowd behavior, spot congestion, and maintain safety without disrupting the student experience.

Officers used the live feed to:

• Observe crowd buildup from elevated angles
• Track movement between the amphitheater and surrounding walkways
• Monitor for signs of agitation or potential conflict between groups
  

The RATT helped UTPD monitor a wide, open area where crowds could quickly grow or shift, especially with nearby housing, classrooms, and walkways contributing to constant foot traffic.

Results and Takeaways

The event concluded without incident, and UTPD credited the flexibility of The RATT in helping manage a highly visible and politically charged event.

Key outcomes included:

• Expanded visibility in a large, open-air space
• Real-time coordination across UTPD teams
• Support for peaceful engagement during a high-profile student-led gathering
  

A Scalable Approach for Campus-Wide Events

UTPD’s deployment of The RATT during the Turning Point USA event with Charlie Kirk shows how mobile monitoring technology can be effectively used to manage large, outdoor, and potentially polarizing events. Its rapid deployment, elevated view, and live feed made it easier for law enforcement to stay informed without overextending resources.

Bonus: Despite the high energy, large crowds, and emotionally charged topics, the event remained peaceful—and students engaged in meaningful dialogue across the political spectrum.