Aspen Sheriff Candidates Debate Drug Policy

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Fri Jul 30, 2010 at 11:43:47 AM EST
Tags: Aspen Sheriff, Joe DiSalvo (all tags)

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Aspen does not allow undercover operations. As I've written before, Sheriff Candidate Joe DiSalvo would keep that policy.

At a debate last night between the three candidates vying for Pitkin County Sheriff, two said they would reverse the policy. Candidate Rick Magnuson, who as I've written before, would make a terrible Sheriff in my view, said:

He pinned the valley’s suicide rate, which is twice the state average, on lax enforcement of drug laws. Magnuson lamented the policy of DiSalvo’s law enforcement agency, which also does not permit undercover sting operations to bust drug dealers, saying it’s something he would like to change.

The third candidate, an ex-cop in Florida and New York, wants to bring in big city cops to Aspen.

DiSalvo is sticking to his guns, and the policies of outgoing Sheriff Bob Braudis [More...]:

DiSalvo responded to the discussion by saying he believed the people of Pitkin County deserve to know who their cops are and that he wouldn’t bring in undercover officers. “This community would not stand for it, which is the beginning of this whole thing,” DiSalvo said.

Another DiSalvo position (see my prior post):

We don’t hassle people, we don’t screw around with people,” DiSalvo said. “I think that’s important.”

Vote for Joe DiSalvo for Sheriff.

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Aspen Sheriff Candidates Debate Drug Policy | 5 comments (5 topical)

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I wish we had lawmen... (none / 0) (#1)
by kdog on Fri Jul 30, 2010 at 01:46:22 PM EST

like Joe DiSalvo in my neck of the woods...a truly civilized and community-minded view of police work. I sure hope he beats those 2 jokers running against him.

Love the "no undercover" policy...we the people do deserve to know who our cops, aka our employees, are...well said sir.

In all fairness (none / 0) (#2)
by nyjets on Fri Jul 30, 2010 at 04:37:31 PM EST

You need undercover cops if you are going to break up some criminal gangs.


No you don't (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 12:30:29 AM EST

You arrest people because they commit a crime, not because of who they associate with.

Also, Aspen doesn't have gangs. It's total population is 6,000 and the median age is 35. Pitkin County has 16,000 residents.


I respectfully disagree (none / 0) (#4)
by nyjets on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 07:13:33 AM EST

On the second point, I can not comment on. I do not live in Aspen. I also have never visted Aspen. Therefore I can not say anything about that.
That being said, you do need undercover cops in some cases if you do suspect a gang, or for that matter any organization are commiting crimes or will commit a crime. That is how you can collect evidence against 'from the horses mouth.'


: Wrong! (none / 0) (#5)
by fiver on Mon Aug 02, 2010 at 03:12:02 PM EST

You need better education programs, re-entry programs that actually rehabilitate instead of punitive penalties, and to decriminalize drugs to stop gangs...not more undercover cops.