GOLDEN —When Ted Mink was appointed Jefferson County sheriff in 2003, the office was still under what he called “the cloud of Columbine.” Public support might never have been lower and his predecessor, Russ Cook, had just resigned after only six months in office because of alcohol issues.
Mink knew the job would not be easy.
“The challenge for me was to regain that public trust,” Mink said.
As the longtime sheriff arranges to leave office, Mink can reflect on how he brought the sheriff’s office back from crisis through public outreach and transparency. While things still are not perfect, he believes he will leave his post with the office in better shape than when he arrived.
Division Chief .
Mink, 65, said he has some “irons in the fire” when it comes to his next move, but he doesn’t anticipate staying on with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office too much in order to give Shrader an opportunity to put his stamp on things.
“That’s not something I would want to burden the new sheriff with. Especially since I’m better looking than him,” Mink joked.
Jokes are a big part of Mink’s personality, whether with reporters, with the public at meetings or with his own deputies. And even though he’s been in charge during some breakthroughs and tough times, some say his personality will leave the biggest mark within the sheriff’s office.
“It’s his personality,” Undersheriff Ray Fleer said. “For as rough and tumble as he appears, he has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve worked for.”
But there are more tangible things that Mink leaves behind. First, he was determined to help the office move past the 1999 . Mink decided to present the evidence collected for anyone to see.
“I think ‘the showing’ was one of the biggest things that happened to this community,” said Sgt. Wayne Holverson, who is in charge of the school resource officer unit. “Talk about transparency!”
Mink asked his deputies to be more involved in the community and attend neighborhood meetings to build a connection with the residents they serve.
Mink said staff started feeling better about their jobs and were part of the community again.
“The biggest part we learned is you have to be transparent,” Mink said. “You have to be honest with the public.”
Mink is also known as a great collaborator and helped spearhead — along with Lakewood Police Department Chief Kevin Paletta — a regional training academy that serves law enforcement agencies throughout the metro area.
The county’s new and will help reduce the wait time for evidence in local forensic cases.
“If there’s a legacy he brought to the sheriff’s department, it’s that real sense of collaboration with all law enforcement agencies in Jefferson County,” Arvada police Deputy Chief Gary Creager said.
Mink doesn’t leave completely satisfied, however, as the big issue facing the sheriff’s office in the past few years is a lower pay rate that has caused many deputies to bolt for other departments. Mink has spent the past two years battling for more .
“It’s disheartening and something I consider a failure on my part,” he said.
But the staff seems to recognize that those matters are out of Mink’s control. When looking back, they see the good things and big personality that has made it fun to come to work.
“What he’s done in the 11 years is make us a more professional department,” division chief Dan Gard said.
Mink said if he had any advice for Shrader, it would be to be himself, be accountable and be honest. And maybe try the occasional joke or two.
“Don’t take yourself too seriously; have fun with it,” Mink said. “People know how to do the job. They just need a little direction.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or
