Irony alert: The inmate imprisoned in a jail named after him
After being arrested in a drugs-for-sex sting, a once-revered Colorado lawman ends up in a detention center bearing his name
The story: A former Arapahoe County sheriff was so widely respected that when he retired in 2002, local Colorado politicians named their jail after him. Now that same sheriff, Patrick J. Sullivan, is an inmate at the Patrick J. Sullivan Jr. Detention Facility, after being booked this week on charges that he tried to trade methamphetamine for sex with a man. In less pitiful days back in 1999, this "hero" sheriff played a lead role in the response to the Columbine school shootings, which led to his being named national sheriff of the year. Shocked former colleagues said he "oozed honesty and integrity." Sullivan, who's being held on $500,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5.
The reaction: "It's like an April Fools' joke or something," former Boulder County Sheriff George Epp tells The Denver Post, "but it's not April 1st." And the more you dig into this disturbing case, says Michael Roberts at Westword, the more "creepy" the details get. Not only do officers say that they caught Sullivan handing over meth, expecting sex in return, but they suspect he might be HIV-positive, meaning he could be charged with knowingly exposing others. Frankly, what Sullivan did or didn't do is none of our business, says Jacob Sullum at Reason. "This sort of sleazy setup is an egregious waste of law enforcement resources, and it is manifestly unjust to threaten someone" with prison — Sullivan could get six years if convicted — "for attempting a peaceful, entirely consensual transaction with another adult."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The Cabinet Minister: 'sparkling' comedy with a 'satirical sting'
The Week Recommends Nancy Carroll's revival of Arthur Wing Pinero's classic farce is a 'life-affirming triumph'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Cosy stays around the world
The Blend About time life gave you a hug? Then check in here...
By Delilah Khomo Published
-
The billion-dollar fight over the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks
In The Spotlight Several nations have staked a claim to the San José's treasure but who has the right to it?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published