GOLDEN, Colo.—Former Jefferson County sheriff Russ Cook, who stepped down as he struggled with alcoholism, was found dead at his home on Friday. He was 59.
Cook was found after a relative asked deputies to check on him because he hadn’t been seen or heard from Cook in several days, Jefferson County sheriff’s spokesman Jim Shires said. The cause of death will be investigated, but no foul play was suspected.
Cook, a former Golden police chief, resigned as sheriff under pressure in July 2003 after six months on the job. His command staff said they had lost confidence in him. Eight elected county officials called on him to resign because he had left an alcohol treatment center after only two weeks.
Earlier this year, he was arrested after being accused of stalking a former girlfriend in Colorado Springs.
When Cook re-entered treatment in August 2003, he told the Rocky Mountain News that his faith helped him cope.
“I think I will face a challenge every day. I don’t know what being past it means. But if it is as easy in the future as it is now, I will be fine,” he said.
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said it was Cook’s dream to serve as Jefferson County sheriff, and “it was heartbreaking to watch him drink that dream away.”
“Russ leaves a wonderful family who can perhaps take some comfort in the years of dedicated public service, including his leadership to all of us in Golden as chief of our superb police force,” Eid said in a written statement.
