# Time to pit former sheriff Patrick J. Sullivan Jr. of Arapahoe County, CO **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650 "2011-12-01T02:23:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/1 "2011-12-01T02:23:51Z")
What can you say? Patrick J. Sullivan was sheriff of the year in 2001. He even had a jail in Arapahoe County, CO named after him. Now he is sitting in that jail. Why? [http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/former-sheriff-arrested-sent-jail-named-him-153854700.html](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/former-sheriff-arrested-sent-jail-named-him-153854700.html) Well, it seems that Patty was trading meth for homosexual sex. Meth is bad shit. Drugs for sex is a bad choice. Drugs for homosexual sex is something only a Republican sheriff in a conservative community would do (well, not “only” but it fits a certain profile). Sitting locked up, in a jail that is named after you? Priceless. Patty, I have to hand it to you. You have earned a HOF mention into the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/2 "2011-12-01T02:38:43Z")
[Ted Haggard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Haggard)was a closeted gay guy in Colorado\* who bought meth from a male prostitute. Such a shame they never met as it could have saved both of them a load of embarrassment. \*But he’s feeling much straighter now. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/3 "2011-12-01T02:40:44Z")
Yeah, I saw this mentioned in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=620089), starting at post 30, where it is not really appropriate. He’s never been anti-gay, to the best of my knowledge. Sullivan has apparently been using meth himself, according to the report on Channel 4 this evening. I can’t imagine how that started, but I find the story more sad than anything else. I’d like to pit Channel 4, actually, where they spent half the time on the story trying to instill fear into parents of school children because after he retired as sheriff, he took a job with a school district where he had no contact with the students. 'Cause, you know, a gay (or bisexual) man who trades meth for sex with adult meth addicts is obviously a child molester. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/4 "2011-12-01T02:46:59Z")
Here’s a link to the Denver Post [story](http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19439677). > [@](#): > > Authorities began investigating former Araphoe County Sheriff Patrick Sullivan after a Centennial man called police in September and said “an old guy” was trying to get his roommates back into drugs and had been smoking methamphetamine with them, according to a police report. > > … > > After several phone calls and text messages, Sullivan agreed to meet one of the men at an Aurora home and bring meth to exchange for sex. > > … > > Sullivan was booked into the jail that bears his name on a charge of unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing or sale of a controlled substance. The Class 5 felony carries a penalty of up to six years in prison. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/5 "2011-12-01T02:59:11Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > But he’s feeling much straighter now. [Ted Haggard Is Completely Heterosexual](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZmHC75FDqQ) ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/6 "2011-12-01T04:20:40Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > What can you say? > > Patrick J. Sullivan was sheriff of the year in 2001. He even had a jail in Arapahoe County, CO named after him. Now he is sitting in that jail. > > Why? > > [http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/former-sheriff-arrested-sent-jail-named-him-153854700.html](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/former-sheriff-arrested-sent-jail-named-him-153854700.html) > > Well, it seems that Patty was trading meth for homosexual sex. > > Meth is bad shit. Drugs for sex is a bad choice. Drugs for homosexual sex is something only a Republican sheriff in a conservative community would do (well, not “only” but it fits a certain profile). Sitting locked up, in a jail that is named after you? Priceless. > > Patty, I have to hand it to you. You have earned a HOF mention into the Pit. OH WOW NEAT I READ YAHOO NEWS TOO 😕 Boss pitting, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Mann\_Slaughter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Mann\_Slaughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mann_Slaughter)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/8 "2011-12-01T11:04:59Z")
> [@allesterstrauss](#): > > [spam deleted by moderator] Reported as SPAM! ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/9 "2011-12-01T11:08:39Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > \*But he’s feeling much straighter now. I was under the impression you [could be straight and have ‘gay’ sex](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/gays-anatomy/200810/gay-guise-when-straight-men-have-sex-other-men). > [@](#): > > Sexual orientation doesn’t change over time. One’s sexual behaviors and preferences might change, but like one’s temperament, one’s orientation remains mostly stable. The term also refers to how someone self-identifies, not how others may categorize him or her. Some people self-identify as straight, while others self-identify as gay or lesbian, ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/10 "2011-12-01T13:15:26Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’d like to pit Channel 4, actually, where they spent half the time on the story trying to instill fear into parents of school children because after he retired as sheriff, he took a job with a school district where he had no contact with the students. 'Cause, you know, a gay (or bisexual) man who trades meth for sex with adult meth addicts is obviously a child molester. You’re mostly right, but would you want Wilt Chamberlain coaching the cheer team? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/11 "2011-12-01T14:20:25Z")
Well, how many cheerleading coaches could pat the girl on top of the pyramid on the head? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/12 "2011-12-01T14:23:33Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Well, it seems that Patty was trading meth for homosexual sex. Yawn. The only way this gets less interesting is if he was trading weed for sex. If there any outrage it should be that a nothing crime like this warrants $250,000 bond, while Jerry Sandusky is out on $100,000 unsecured bail. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/13 "2011-12-01T15:56:03Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If there any outrage it should be that a nothing crime like this warrants $250,000 bond, while Jerry Sandusky is out on $100,000 unsecured bail. His bond was raised to $500,000 yesterday. I agree, even the lower amount was completely out of line for the offense he is charged with. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/14 "2011-12-01T16:46:08Z")
Whew! I’m glad they raised the bail, he WAS carrying almost $100 worth of illegal drugs. Can’t let a monster like that wander the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/15 "2011-12-01T19:48:21Z")
Someone publicly against something actually bad (like meth) who is captured by it is to be pitied, not pitted. Someone who is against something which isn’t wrong while engaging in it is a hypocrite who should get pitted. This poor guy doesn’t fall into that category. In fact, he is a victim of anti-gay bias more than anything, since with true equality he would be able to be in an open relationship and not engage in this kind of thing. Unless he was like Herman Cain, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/16 "2011-12-01T20:05:43Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Someone publicly against something actually bad (like meth) who is captured by it is to be pitied, not pitted. Someone who is against something which isn’t wrong while engaging in it is a hypocrite who should get pitted. This poor guy doesn’t fall into that category. In fact, he is a victim of anti-gay bias more than anything, since with true equality he would be able to be in an open relationship and not engage in this kind of thing. [An open relationship with guys he bonded out of jail.](http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19437474) I wonder if he tore up their tickets as well. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/17 "2011-12-01T21:12:58Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Patrick J. Sullivan was sheriff of the year in 2001. He even had a jail in Arapahoe County, CO named after him. Now he is sitting in that jail. I find this part rather poetic. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/18 "2011-12-01T23:42:18Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Yawn. > > The only way this gets less interesting is if he was trading weed for sex. > > If there any outrage it should be that a nothing crime like this warrants $250,000 bond, while Jerry Sandusky is out on $100,000 unsecured bail. > [@Frank](#): > > His bond was raised to $500,000 yesterday. I agree, even the lower amount was completely out of line for the offense he is charged with. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Whew! I’m glad they raised the bail, he WAS carrying almost $100 worth of illegal drugs. Can’t let a monster like that wander the streets. > [@Voyager](#): > > Someone publicly against something actually bad (like meth) who is captured by it is to be pitied, not pitted. Someone who is against something which isn’t wrong while engaging in it is a hypocrite who should get pitted. This poor guy doesn’t fall into that category. In fact, he is a victim of anti-gay bias more than anything, since with true equality he would be able to be in an open relationship and not engage in this kind of thing. > > Unless he was like Herman Cain, of course. I think what you are missing about this whole thing is that we don’t know all of the underlying facts at this time and the above comments seem to be from those unwilling to scratch beneath the surface and recognize some context. 1.) He was a former sheriff and an honored one at that. 2.) There’s nothing worse than a cop gone bad. They know the system from the inside and can become very dangerous criminals. 3.) Why did Sullivan retire as sheriff? Was it to make more money on the “outside” which is what a lot of politicians turned lobbyists and military officers that work for defense contractor do? Maybe Sullivan decided to cash in. 4.) Sullivan is accused of distribution. Was his role much bigger than just giving meth for sex? 5.) If Sullivan is heavily involved in distribution he should have a high bail. Otherwise he may be in Mexico before sunrise. I don’t know the underlying facts but I suspect that there is a lot more to this than one or a couple of incidents. I remember when Ted Bundy was first arrested. As a first time offender, he was given the max sentence for attempted kidnapping. Why? The justice system knew who he really was but they couldn’t directly connect him to a murder. But they did have him on something and they went with it. I think a lot more will break on this story. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/19 "2011-12-02T00:44:57Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > I think what you are missing about this whole thing is that we don’t know all of the underlying facts at this time and the above comments seem to be from those unwilling to scratch beneath the surface and recognize some context. It didn’t stop you. > [@](#): > > 1.) He was a former sheriff and an honored one at that. True. What’s that got to do with his bail? > [@](#): > > 2.) There’s nothing worse than a cop gone bad. They know the system from the inside and can become very dangerous criminals. Also true. What’s that got to do with his bail? > [@](#): > > 3.) Why did Sullivan retire as sheriff? Was it to make more money on the “outside” which is what a lot of politicians turned lobbyists and military officers that work for defense contractor do? Maybe Sullivan decided to cash in. Speculation and irrelevant to anything about his case. > [@](#): > > 4.) Sullivan is accused of distribution. Was his role much bigger than just giving meth for sex? Possibly. However, giving meth for sex is, in fact, distribution. > [@](#): > > 5.) If Sullivan is heavily involved in distribution he should have a high bail. Otherwise he may be in Mexico before sunrise. More speculation, though relevant this time. Given that the person he bought the meth from on the way to the meeting has also been arrested, I don’t think he’s a big-time distributor. If he was, he’d have had some on hand. I think he’s more of a suicide risk than anything else. It was not a violent crime, he has ties to the community, he has no prior record. I think his bail was set ridiculously high. > [@](#): > > I think a lot more will break on this story. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/20 "2011-12-02T01:52:41Z")
My best friend used to work in the D.A.'s office in the 18th Judicial District, which is this guy’s territory. I asked her about this, and she said there had been sketchy rumors for years, but always from people who were Sullivan’s political enemies. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650/21 "2011-12-02T02:05:33Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It didn’t stop you. > True. What’s that got to do with his bail? > Also true. What’s that got to do with his bail? > Speculation and irrelevant to anything about his case. > Possibly. However, giving meth for sex is, in fact, distribution. > More speculation, though relevant this time. Given that the person he bought the meth from on the way to the meeting has also been arrested, I don’t think he’s a big-time distributor. If he was, he’d have had some on hand. > > I think he’s more of a suicide risk than anything else. It was not a violent crime, he has ties to the community, he has no prior record. I think his bail was set ridiculously high. > We’ll see. I’m so glad you are not the Sheriff, DA or Judge of the place where I live. The justice system has to presume that someone is innocent until proven guilty. I support that. On the other hand it is the job of the police, the prosecutors and the judges to make a decision based on what they know or think they know to arrest a person and release that person on bond. Just the fact that they arrest a suspect means that they have made a determination that the person is guilty. It’s up to the court to determine if that suspicion and charge was accurate. Their suspicions are relevant to the bail. There is nothing wrong with holding someone who they have reason to believe is guilty of more than what they have been charged with. That’s why judges determine bail based on the degree of the crime and the flight risk. Sullivan is not just your common street criminal that got busted for doing something stupid. Oftentimes, bail is denied while the DA is building a case for more charges. Seeing a $1/2 million dollar bail on this guy raises a flag. The guy was connected to the justice system yet they want to keep him on a short leash. That tells me that there is a lot more to this than just meth for sex. Cummon, think this thing through. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-pit-former-sheriff-patrick-j-sullivan-jr-of-arapahoe-county-co/604650.md?page=2)