GOLDEN — When he didn’t need directions to his new office; he’d been there many times before.
Shrader entered the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s highest post equipped with more than 30 years of law enforcement experience with the department, a trait much different than his recent predecessors, who came from outside the organization.
The positives of that experience and knowledge of his staff has been apparent early in his term as he succeeds Shrader has been able to pick up where Mink left off and put his agenda in place quickly with the trust of his deputies already earned.
“When you have someone who came up through the ranks, they truly understand the culture of the agency,” Capt. Del Kleinschmidt said.
While Mink had to immediately address the aftermath of the Columbine shooting and the resignation of Sheriff Russ Cook — who served just six months before stepping down due to alcohol issues — Shrader inherits a much different department, but not one without troubles.
The biggest issue Shrader faces is the . A showed that less than 40 percent of employees were committed to the department longterm and more than 40 percent planned to look for other opportunities.
Shrader has lobbied the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners for additional money to give raises and he has received some. He’s also worked on replacing those who have left.
“We started the year with a lot of vacancies and knew we needed to be aggressive and hire,” Shrader said. “We’ve done that.”
Deputy Mike Burgess, a 22-year veteran, said he’s seen Shrader take the right steps to help with the attrition issue and there is hope at the department.
“If he can come through, the road to recovery for morale will be on it’s way,” Burgess said.
Kleinschmidt agreed and said deputies feel they have Shrader’s ear.
“There’s a sense of not just hope, the people here really feel they have the respect of the sheriff,” Kleinschmidt said. “He recognizes the struggles they’re going through and has made a point to recognize people’s accomplishments.”
Shrader is also spending his first year focusing on community outreach. And he’s preparing for the regionalization of some of the department’s areas. The Combined Regional Academy is already an effort with several other departments around the metro area and the sheriff’s office recently introduced a .
The county’s law enforcement departments will also combine the 911 dispatch center, which Shrader said is likely two years away.
Shrader said he thinks community outreach is important when it comes the public’s understanding of the sheriff’s office and vice versa.
“There’s a national dialogue going on about what people feel about police, so I want to make sure we’re engaging in the community to every extent we can and build confidence in the people we serve,” he said.
Shrader, 53, joined the sheriff’s office in 1984 and started working the night shift at the county jail. He was later promoted to corporal, then patrol supervisor and finally division chief, a title he held for 16 years prior to his election in November.
He said he ran because he feels called to serve and he cares about the department, something that was instilled in him and his brothers and sisters by his parents.
When it comes to political side of his job, Shrader said he’s been working the board of commissioners for some time in his role as division chief and it’s been a pretty comfortable transition for him.
Commissioner Don Rosier said Shrader has kept things rolling along at the sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff Shrader came in being very involved with his department. His transition has been, in my view, very seamless,” Rosier said. “He’s been very good, very transparent, very matter of fact.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joe_vacc
