Jeffco Sheriff Won't Seek Re-Election
Sheriff Tells Staff Of His Decision
POSTED: 12:17 p.m. MST April 5, 2002
UPDATED: 1:00 p.m. MST April 5, 2002
GOLDEN, Colo -- Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone told his staff Friday that he would not run for re-election, 7NEWS reported.
Stone has been under fire for his handling of the Columbine High School massacre and subsequent investigation.
Fifteen people -- including the two gunmen -- died in the April
1999 attacks.
Sheriff John Stone said the fallout from the attacks and its
aftermath was the main reason he decided not to run again.
"It was Columbine, basically. You've got a tar baby that no
matter who touched it, they are not going to walk away from it,"
Stone told the Rocky Mountain News. "I still think we did everything we could do under impossible circumstances and by the rules as the rule were at that
time."
The sheriff declined requests from other media for interviews about his decision.
Stone was elected sheriff Nov. 3, 1998, by a 54 percent margin.
Ten people have filed with the Jefferson County clerk's office as candidates to replace Stone.
Watch for more on this story on 7NEWS at 5 p.m.
Stone has been under fire for his handling of the Columbine High School massacre and subsequent investigation.
Fifteen people -- including the two gunmen -- died in the April
1999 attacks.
Sheriff John Stone said the fallout from the attacks and its
aftermath was the main reason he decided not to run again.
"It was Columbine, basically. You've got a tar baby that no
matter who touched it, they are not going to walk away from it,"
Stone told the Rocky Mountain News. "I still think we did everything we could do under impossible circumstances and by the rules as the rule were at that
time."
The sheriff declined requests from other media for interviews about his decision.
Stone was elected sheriff Nov. 3, 1998, by a 54 percent margin.
Ten people have filed with the Jefferson County clerk's office as candidates to replace Stone.
Watch for more on this story on 7NEWS at 5 p.m.
Previous Stories:
- March 29, 2002: Columbine Film Says Warning Signs Overlooked
- March 7, 2002: Lawmakers Turn Down Columbine Panel
- March 6, 2002: Jeffco Sheriff Probes Leaked Columbine Photos
- January 31, 2002: Columbine Federal Grand Jury Denied
- January 23, 2002: Police Officer: Tapes Prove He Didn't Kill Student
- January 23, 2002: Judge Rejects Request To Reinstate Columbine Lawsuits
- January 14, 2002: DA Requests Coroner's Inquest In Columbine Death
- January 11, 2002: Columbine Parent Releases Ballistics Report
- January 9, 2002: Deputy Fired For Columbine Statements
- January 8, 2002: Rohrboughs Ask For Columbine Grand Jury
- January 4, 2002: Owens Asks DA To Reconsider Columbine Grand Jury
- January 3, 2002: U.S. Attorney Refuses To Convene Columbine Grand Jury
- January 3, 2002: Tape Disputes Sheriff's Columbine Account
- December 27, 2001: Court Filing Names Denver Officer As Rohrbough's Killer
- December 12, 2001: 3 Families Want Columbine Suits Separated
- December 7, 2001: Columbine Gunman's Parents 'Horrified' By Diary Release
- December 5, 2001: Journal: Columbine Attack Planned For A Year
- November 27, 2001: Judge Throws Out Columbine Lawsuits
- September 4, 2001:
Klebolds Talk In New Book About Parenting - August 28, 2001: Guilty Plea Entered In Columbine-Style Attack Plot
- August 24, 2001: Gun Supplier Wants Columbine Lawsuit Dismissed
- August 15, 2001: Columbine Survivors 'Pedal For Peace'
- July 12, 2001: Columbine Gunman May Not Have Shot Himself
- June 28, 2001: Man Who Sold Columbine Gun Paroled
- June 19, 2001: Columbine Crime Scene Evidence Released
- June 14, 2001: Columbine Parent Arrested After Protest
- May 24, 2001: Family: Columbine Victim Shot By Police
- May 22, 2001: 'No Obligation' To Release Columbine Info, Sheriff Says
- May 18, 2001: Columbine Commission Releases Report
- May 10, 2001: Audio Experts Review Columbine Dispatch Tape
- May 8, 2001: Sheriff Won't Answer New Questions About Columbine Investigation
- May 7, 2001: Tape Suggests Police Knew Columbine Shooter Before Attack
- April 27, 2001: Sheriffs Ask Judge To Dismiss Columbine Lawsuits
- April 13, 2001: Columbine Interviews Released, Grand Jury Requested
- April 11, 2001: Newly Released Columbine Documents Spark Criticism
- March 6, 2001: Columbine Parents Surprised That Shooting Warnings Were Ignored
- January 30, 2001: Columbine Autopsy Report Ordered Released
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
