Was it a heinous, violent gang rape at one of America's elite colleges? Or is it a colossal fraud? Or something in between?

Getting to the bottom of the case at the University of Virginia is the responsibility of the Charlottesville Police Department, a small town police force in the eye of the storm. The man in charge is Chief Tim Longo, who knows what is at stake and says he will not be rushed at this moment of crisis.

The university was thrust into the national spotlight once again when Rolling Stone magazine published an unnerving account of a young woman identified as "Jackie," who alleges she was brutally gang raped by seven men at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity in September 2012.

In response, University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan requested the police department open an investigation into these allegations, in addition to suspending all fraternity and sorority activities until the end of the year.

"We'll continue to remain focused until we get to the truth and the underlying facts regardless of what's going on around us. We've got to stay really focused on getting to the truth and that could take a long period of time," Longo told ABC News today.

Despite recent reporting that raises questions about whether the attack described in the magazine ever occurred, the chief said his detectives will continue their effort to get to the bottom of the allegations. They need to find out whether a crime was committed and, if it was, by whom, and he said he cannot allow conflicting news reports to dictate what investigators do. He also said the probe will take some time to complete and he is not yet in a position to say whether a crime actually occurred.

The fraternity where the rape allegedly occurred has released a statement on Friday denying the article's allegations.

"We have no knowledge of these alleged acts being committed at our house or by our members," the Virginia branch of Phi Kappa Psi said.

Longo, 51, previously a bureau chief with the Baltimore Police Department, has served as police chief for the City of Charlottesville for 14 years. He oversees a force of 119.

Longo acknowledged that in the wake of the killing earlier this semester of U.Va. student Hannah Graham and now these most recent allegations, his cases have become exhausting and tragic for the department and the community. At the same time, though, Longo said his department's work has given credibility to the organization and to the men and women who work in the department.

"The moms and dads from all over the nation and from all over this world have entrusted their children - the safety of their children - with not only this police department but with this community," Longo said. "So when things like the tragedy of Hannah, and the allegations that have been set forth these past several weeks, folks don't always like to hear me say it but we take those things personal because we recognize we have a stewardship and responsibility over those matters."

U.Va. President Teresa Sullivan has outlined a series of sweeping changes that include an increased police presence, a command center composed of university police and Charlottesville police, and a group of unarmed security personnel called "ambassadors" who will be prominently deployed near the library and the business area known as "The Corner" to assist students and provide escorts as needed.

"What this opportunity has presented for the Chief of Police there [at U.Va.] and for me in my community is to look at ways to begin to focus on that joint patrol area by not just increasing the resources of sworn law enforcement, but perhaps utilizing some of the strategies that other universities have in the country," Longo said.