Coming in as a write-in candidate, John Berry has been preparing his campaign for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s seat for the past four years, a position that has drawn three other candidates.
Currently residing in Arvada, Berry is working as an independent contractor providing consultation to security services and towing, 25 years of law enforcement work behind him. His previous employment has run the spectrum of civil service from volunteer firefighter to paramedic to working for various police and sheriff’s departments in Alamosa County and Conejos County Sheriff’s Department.
Berry, who is a newcomer to the race, is also an outsider who unlike his opponents, hasn’t been previously employed by the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office. It is one of many features that Berry says will make him an outstanding candidate for the position.
“I have no ties with Jefferson County Sheriff’s department,” Berry said. “We need somebody new that’s not afraid to go in there and say this is what needs to be done.”
His first priority includes addressing the sheriff’s office $90 million budget and high deputy attrition rates which has resulted from a lack of pay raises. Low morale and internal conflict has been an open issue with at least 10 deputies, who are representing approximately 100 other deputies, filing a law suit against Sheriff Ted Mink and the Board of County Commissioners for alleged unpaid wages they say they were promised.
“I think it’s a travesty these people have not had a raise in so long,” Berry said. “You can’t tell me service hasn’t been affected.”
Running as a self-defined “constitutional sheriff” Berry is not shy about his support for the second amendment and protecting the constitutional rights of citizens. He wants to utilize county inmates for outside work programs and stated that if elected, his office would be one of transparency with an open door policy. He has received one endorsement so far from Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona who has been a great influence on Berry.
“I’m going to be a sheriff that people know,” Berry said. “No more status quo in Jeffco.”

For more information about this candidate visit www.johnjpberry.com