For the first time in more than a decade, fresh faces will be in charge of most of the sheriff’s offices in the Denver metro area, ushering in a new era of law enforcement leadership in some of Colorado’s most populous counties.
Elections in Jefferson, Weld and Adams counties next month will determine replacements for longtime sheriffs Ted Mink, John Cooke and Doug Darr, respectively. And though new sheriffs took over for and earlier this year, they both must stand for election on Nov. 4 for the first time.
Taken together, the five departing or recently departed metro area sheriffs have a combined 56 years of experience in their counties’ top law enforcement position.
“A lot of us have known each other since we started in the business — those relationships are hard to replace,” said Mink, who has been Jefferson County’s sheriff since July 2003.
Robinson, who recommended to the Arapahoe County commissioners that David Walcher take over for him when he retired eight months ago, said the turnover at the top is all part of the democratic system.
“Good people move on, and good people come in and fill these positions,” said Robinson, who oversaw the 2012 Aurora theater shooting and the fatal shooting of a student at Arapahoe High School in 2013 during his 12 years as sheriff. “It’s part of the process.”
The metro area contests are part of several dozen sheriff races being held around the state, including elections in El Paso and Mesa counties that have been mired in controversy.
In July, after questions arose over a timecard he filed while working part time at the agency.
And earlier this year, were leveled against him. Term limited, Maketa will step down as sheriff after the November election.
The metro area hasn’t gone without sheriff controversies.
Darr generated headlines when over housing inmates. A portion of Aurora is in Adams County, and city taxpayers pay for use of the jail. However, Darr refused to accept those inmates, saying the jail is overcrowded.
An out-of-court settlement was reached this summer in which the cap on inmates was raised temporarily.
And Cooke, Weld County’s sheriff, against Gov. John Hickenlooper over Colorado’s gun control laws.
Chris Johnson, executive director of the County Sheriffs of Colorado, said he doesn’t see anything unusual about the sheriff races this year despite the public attention some have garnered.
“Sheriffs make their own plans or politics determine whether they return to office or not,” Johnson said. “It would appear to me to be a typical election cycle for sheriffs.”
John Aguilar: 303-954-1695, jaguilar@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abuvthefold
Sheriff Candidates from Major Parties
Jefferson County
Brett Almy, Libertarian
Jeff Shrader, Republican
Douglas County
Tony Spurlock, Republican
Brock McCoy, Libertarian
Adams County
Michael McIntosh, Republican
Rick Reigenborn, Democrat
Arapahoe County
David Walcher, Republican
Tyler Scott Brown, Democrat
Weld County
Jeff Rodriguez, Democrat
Steve Reams, Republican
