Ken Wallentine

Law Enforcement and the Law

Ken Wallentine is the chief of the West Jordan (Utah) Police Department and former chief of law enforcement for the Utah Attorney General. He has served over four decades in public safety, is a legal expert and editor of Xiphos, a monthly national criminal procedure newsletter. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Death and serves as a use of force consultant in state and federal criminal and civil litigation across the nation.

LATEST ARTICLES

Close up of black truck driver behind the steering wheel.

Legal

‘One suspicious thing after another’ in truck driver case

In U.S. v. Aquino Urraca, the 6th Circuit ruled a truck search was justified based on reasonable suspicion, overturning evidence suppression

June 12, 2025 10:12 AM

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Bullets lying on the ground

Legal

Observation from outside curtilage permits incursion

Court upholds officers’ entry under exigent circumstances and the Fourth Amendment, finding observations justified further action

June 12, 2025 09:55 AM

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lights-police-car

Legal

Instagram posts help support conviction for illegal possession of guns

A traffic stop leads to finding guns and marijuana, with social media proving illegal possession of firearms

June 06, 2025 09:48 AM

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Drug detection dog sniffing car at airport

Legal

Dog sniff at the border reveals hidden migrant

In U.S. v. Keller, the 5th Circuit reaffirms the legality of Fourth Amendment border searches at immigration checkpoints

June 06, 2025 09:25 AM

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AT&T store in Philadelphia

Legal

Grabbing an officer’s gun leads to 9 years in prison

Grabbing and firing an officer’s gun during arrest results in a felon in possession of firearm conviction and a 110-month prison sentence

May 29, 2025 11:44 AM

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Black Friday Shopping Spree

Legal

Tragic outcome for a would-be good Samaritan

The 11th Circuit affirms an officer’s shooting of an armed bystander during an active shooter incident at an Alabama mall

May 23, 2025 01:47 PM

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Legal

Warrantless entry and dog bite leads to liability for deputies

The 10th Circuit denied qualified immunity to deputies who made a warrantless entry and allowed a K-9 to bite the resident

May 23, 2025 01:37 PM

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Surgeon holding bullet

Legal

Proper seizure of bullet removed through surgery

The 10th Circuit ruled the bullet seizure during surgery was lawful, justified by medical consent under the Fourth Amendment

May 16, 2025 05:18 PM

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Interrogation Room

Legal

In child sexual abuse case, ‘talk nice, think mean’ pays off

The 10th Circuit upheld the admissibility of a voluntary confession, ruling it was Fifth Amendment compliant given the friendly interview

May 16, 2025 05:08 PM

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Police: License and Registration Please

Legal

Driver’s license was legitimate target of vehicle search

In U.S. v. Pinder, the 10th Circuit questioned a car search and discovery of evidence under the search-incident-to-arrest doctrine

May 01, 2025 11:09 AM

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