
Iron County Sheriff

ELECTED SHERIFF'S ARE ACCOUNTABLE DIRECTLY TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THEIR STATE, THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, STATUTES AND THE CITIZENS OF THEIR COUNTY....

SERVICE & EXCELLENCE

THROUGH
integrity - leadership - courage - innovation - initiative

Ken Carpenter
Leadership Experience
- Sheriff - Iron County Utah (January 2019 - present)
- Chief of Police - Parowan City (Oct 2011 – Dec 2018)
- Commander - Iron Metro SWAT (Feb 2012 – 2018)
- Patrol Officer / School Resource Officer- Cedar City Police Department (Aug 2004 – Oct 2011)
- Untied States Marine Corps ( Jul 1984 – August 2004)
- Major / Provost Marshal – MCRD San Diego (Jul 2001 – Aug 2004)
- Major / Deputy Provost Marshal / Deputy Director of DPS – Commander Air Bases West MCAS Miramar (Jul 1999 – Jul 2001)
- Captain / Student – Amphibious Warfare School ( Aug 1998 – Jun 1999)
- Captain / Company Commander / Provost Marshal – Henderson Hall ( Aug 1996 – Aug 1998)
- Captain / Guard Officer – Marine Corps Security Force Company London England ( Aug 1993 – Aug 1996)
- First Lieutenant / Operations Officer / Watch Commander – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune ( Dec 1990 – Aug 1993)
Education
​- National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) – ELITE ACADEMY For Jail & Corrections Command Staff
- 205th Session, FBI National Academy (FBI NA)
- University of Virginia (Completed 17 semester hours, with 8 semester hours of Master Degree course work accredited)
- Bachelor of Science
- University of Utah, Political Science with International Relations Certificate.
- Associate of Science
- Utah Technical College Provo/Orem, Natural Science
- Utah Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Session 251
- Adjunct Instructor (Criminal Justice) - Central Texas College London 1994-1995
​
- As well as several hundred hours of law enforcement specific leadership and operational training.
Leadership and Executive Boards
- Parliamentarian International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP)
Executive Committee (Oct 2023 – Oct 2024)
- Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN)
Executive board member representing all law enforcement agencies in Utah for our eight state region (Nov 2022 – present)
- Iron Garfield Beaver Counties Drug Taskforce Board
Executive board member
- Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee
Policy and legislative consultation
​
Awards
Law Enforcement
​
- Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) “Sheriff of the Year” (2023)
- Utah Chiefs of Police Association “Outstanding Small Agency Chief of the Year 2015”
- U.S. Department of Justice “Justice for Victims of Crime Award”
- POST Session 251 “Outstanding Leadership Award”
- POST Session 251 “Superior Fitness Award”
- Utah Peace Officers Association “Outstanding Achiever Police Trainee Award” for Utah Police Academy Session 251
- Cedar City Employee of the Year for 2010
Military
​
- Meritorious Service Medal (two time recipient)
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
- Meritorious Unit Citation (four time recipient)
- Good Conduct Medal
- Armed Forces Defense Medal (two time recipient)
- Outstanding Meritorious Volunteer Service Medal
- Overseas Service Ribbon (three time recipient)
- Commanding General’s Certificate of Commendation
- Meritorious Mast and Numerous certificates and letters of appreciation
Civilian Service
Eagle Scout Award with three palms
Scouting’s Silver Beaver Award
Scouting’s District Award of Merit
Scouting’s Second Miler Award
Vigil Honor, Order of the Arrow (Scouting’s National Honor Society)
“On My Honor” Scouting religious award
Cedar Breaks Scouting District “Paramount Service Award for 2016