JeffCo County Sheriff Election

[Ronin13]

I stand corrected, maybe because they both have an S at the beginning of their names. The SRO I'm friends with is pushing for Shires. Talking to my dad, who knows both guys, he says he's not pleased with either candidate... Shrader is a bureaucrat who my dad fears will be more of the same we had from Mink. Shires was a SGT, not much experience compared to Shrader. Met both guys briefly last weekend at the Evergreen Rodeo Parade, they're both pro-gun, although Shires seems way more excited about that aspect of his platform. I dunno, I wanted to vote for Shrader, but I'm thinking I'm going to have to go with Shires, he strikes me as the type that won't be too big of a bureaucrat and less of a politician.

[OneGuy67]

I have no dog in this fight as I don't live in Jeffco and I don't know either candidate.

I had a discourse on Facebook with a buddy of mine who is carrying water for Shires. We discussed the fact that Shires does not have any formal education, has not attended any of the leadership courses that most all other Sheriffs and Police Chiefs normally attend prior to attaining the positions, and has no budgetary experience or administrative experience. He believes Shires is the best person for the job. I respectfully disagree with him.

There are two big leadership courses that are almost always a "must have" for all heads of agencies and they are the Northwestern University School of Police and Command and the FBI's National Academy (N.A.). There are then regional leadership courses that are looked upon favorably to round the leadership education. Additionally, higher education is also being looked for at that level as well. Most agencies are looking for someone with at least a Master's Degree for their Chief of Police and it has become the "norm" for medium and larger agencies in the Metro area to want these types of educational and leadership checkoffs for the heads of their law enforcement agencies.

Shires does not have any of these things. He started with Jeffco in 1985 in the jail and moved to patrol duties in 1990. He was a Public Information Officer (PIO), a staff inspector, and was promoted to Sergeant in 2012. He has zero budgetary experience on any level and if elected, he would be responsible for a budget of $91,613,538 (2014 number).

Schrader started with Jeffco in 1984 in the jail. He attended the FBI National Academy in 1994 as a Sergeant (which is pretty good since most people there are usually a Lieutenant or higher in rank); promoted to Division Chief in 1999 and supervised every section of the department, patrol, detention, investigations, and support services and currently manages the $90 million dollar budget. He has a Bachelor's degree and finishing his Master's degree.

Some would argue this is a battle between the agency insider and the underdog (sergeant vs. beaurocrat as one put it). It might be, but the agency isn't a small law enforcement agency like a 4-10 officer department; it has over 550 sworn deputies and over 200 civilian employees. Which one of the candidates has the experience to deal with the political issues that will come up with an agency that large, the budgetary issues, the management issues, the personnel issues, the legal issues, etc.?

If this was a business (your business) that had over 750 employees, that large of a budget, who would you want to run it? Someone who has zero experience at that level, hoping his limited experience and enthusiasm will carry him through or someone who has been part of the command staff of the business for over 15 years?

Again, I have no dog in this fight. I've just been a cop for a long assed time and know my limitations and trying to be the sheriff of an agency that large isn't in my experience level. Neither is it in Shires.

http://www.shires4sheriff.com/home.html

http://www.shrader4sheriff.com/

[Ronin13]

For those that don't know yet, Schrader won... Looks like we'll get more of the same... but at least we can rest easy knowing he's in favor of NFA sign offs and CCW.

[MED]

...but at least we can rest easy knowing he's in favor of NFA sign offs and CCW.

I saw this earlier. Yeah...maybe; I don't know if I trust him. He seems like a guy who will do or say whatever he feels is expedient for him at the time.

[Bailey Guns]

I saw this earlier. Yeah...maybe; I don't know if I trust him. He seems like a guy who will do or say whatever he feels is expedient for him at the time.

Well he was never that way for the many years I knew him. But, I suppose people can change.

[MED]

Well he was never that way for the many years I knew him. But, I suppose people can change.

I certainly can't say anything with authority; it is just a feeling based on what I read. I hope he turns out to be a good sheriff.