John P. Stone, a former Jefferson County Sheriff who headed the workplace through the Columbine Excessive Faculty mass capturing, died Sunday morning whereas in hospice care in Eden Prairie, Minn. He was 73.
Elected sheriff in 1998, Stone served one time period, which was outlined by Columbine, together with the sheriff’s workplace’s preliminary response to the highschool scene, the place responders waited to enter the constructing, in addition to controversies involving the aftermath of the April 20, 1999, mass capturing by which two scholar gunmen killed 12 college students, a instructor, after which themselves. Twenty-four individuals had been bodily injured within the capturing and numerous individuals, close to and much, had been psychologically scarred.
In 2002, when Stone determined to not run for re-election, he informed JHB: “This was my dream job and it has was a nightmare.”
Present Sheriff Jeff Shrader, who served beneath Stone, recalled his former boss as a form man who was dedicated to his household.
“John’s daughter known as me this morning with the unhappy information. I labored with and for John when he was a county commissioner after which when he served one time period as sheriff,” Shrader mentioned. “In all of the years I knew him, he was a form and caring man who cherished his household deeply. My sincerest condolences to his household and pals.”
After the Columbine capturing, a recall effort by locals, together with some households of victims, was initiated in opposition to Stone. Space residents Randy and Judy Brown spearheaded a recall effort, saying the sheriff’s workplace, beneath Stone’s management, mismanaged its response to Columbine and the following investigation. The Browns crossed swords with Stone, partially, as a result of the sheriff as soon as named their son as a suspect within the case. It was an unfounded accusation.
“I’ve no enmity, no anger towards him, he was merely not certified for that scenario and that nice a tragedy,” mentioned Randy Brown. “I actually consider he didn’t know what was occurring with all of the cover-ups of Columbine. There have been so many, and there have been different gamers concerned who had been extra vital than him. I’m actually unhappy, what a disgrace. This makes me very unhappy.”
Born in Battle Creek, Mich., on July 7, 1949, Stone earned a legal justice diploma from San Jose State College in 1971. He later earned a grasp’s diploma in public administration from the College of Colorado Denver.
On Might 28, 1971, Stone was drafted into the U.S. Military, and after his launch from lively responsibility, he served with the California Nationwide Guard till October 1976.
Stone got here to Colorado in 1974 and he served as a police officer in Lakewood for 13 years. Stone was elected a Jefferson County Commissioner in 1987 and he served District 3 for 3 consecutive four-year phrases. He additionally served as president of the Bancroft Hearth Safety District from 1982 till 1987.
As a commissioner, Stone was a “sturdy supporter of transportation enhancements, notably new roads, bridges and interchanges within the fast-growing south a part of the county,” in accordance with a county biography. He additionally supported county libraries and open house.
Gary Laura, a former Jefferson County commissioner, recalled a March 1996 journey with Stone to London the place the 2 had been watching a boxing match on tv and this system was interrupted by breaking information — a capturing bloodbath in Dunblane, Scotland.
The information report described intimately {that a} “native man” walked into the elementary faculty, firing a number of photographs from 4 pistols, killing 16 college students, a instructor and injuring 15 others. The killer then shot himself.
“John was completely devastated by this horrible incident,” Laura mentioned. “After all at the moment, John didn’t even know, nor was he pondering, that he could be Jeffco sheriff sometime.”
Laura recalled Stone, his colleague and good friend, as a prankster who was additionally recognized for his unbridled pursuit of frequent flyer miles.
Considered one of Stone’s pranks concerned Laura’s work desk. When Stone knew that Laura could be out of the workplace for awhile, Stone regularly, over time, lowered the desk by turning the peak adjustment on every desk leg.
“After just a few weeks, I seen one thing was improper with my desk,” Laura mentioned. “It obtained so dangerous that I couldn’t pull my chair as much as it with out hitting my knees on the middle drawer.”
Stone smirked with amusement till he lastly informed Laura what he had achieved. They readjusted the desk legs collectively.
In 2003, Stone labored in personal safety, founding JP Stone & Associates. In 2006, he was employed by Northwest Airways as a district safety coordinator based mostly at Denver Worldwide Airport. Northwest transferred Stone to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Worldwide Airport the place he was regional safety supervisor. He retired from Delta Airways.
In April 2006, Stone met Susan Gates, at the moment a Northwest Airways flight attendant, whereas she was coaching at DIA. On Dec. 8, 2010, they had been married in South Tahoe, Nevada.
“John and I actually hit it off after we went on a date to the Minnesota Zoo,” Gates-Stone mentioned in an interview previous to Stone’s demise. “We by no means separated after that day after we fell in love. We spent years touring all around the world.”
She described their relationship as “soulmates” who met late in life.
Stone is survived by his spouse; a daughter, Lori Babcock; brothers Jerry and Steven; a sister, Pat Ulicki; two stepsons and a stepdaughter; and two grandsons. He was preceded in demise by a son, Brian; and his mother and father, Elvon and Norma Stone.
Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Steve Garnaas was a workers author with JHB from December 1984 till January 1998.