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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The Garfield County Jail has a new commander.
Starting Monday, July 6, former Garfield County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeant Stephen Hopple will move into his new position as the top boss at the jail.
Hopple, 36, has been employed with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office for about five years. According to Hopple, he's worked in several different positions including: Detention deputy, K-9 deputy, and most recently as a patrol sergeant.
Hopple has 15 years of law enforcement experience, has an associate's degree in business, is finishing a bachelor's degree in public administration, and will be working toward a master's degree in public administration as well. He spent close to seven years with the Eagle County Sheriff's Department and over three years with the Basalt Police Department before coming to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.
Hopple will be paid $72,000 annually, which Vallario said is consistent with the other commanders within the organization with equal years of experience. However, the pay is lower than the former jail commander Scott Dawson was paid.
The Sheriff's Office has been without a permanent jail commander since Dawson was fired in February. However, Sheriff Lou Vallario could not disclose the reason for Dawson's termination.
Vallario has said that Dawson's termination had nothing to do with the anonymous e-mail accusing Vallario of wrongdoing back in January, which Dawson was determined to have been the author of along with another former sheriff's office employee, corporal Al Walker.
Vallario said that the sheriff's office had only seven applicants for the open position.
“The process was disappointing as far as the number of people we had to select from,” Vallario said.
Of the seven applicants, three were from out of state, three were from other parts of Colorado, and Hopple was the only current county employee who applied, according to Vallario.
In March, Vallario told the Post Independent that he would look outside the “Sheriff's Office” for a candidate, because he felt that there was nobody within the “chain of command” who was qualified.
“My intent was to get somebody with a fresh point of view, with outside eyes to come in,” Vallario said. “The intent was to look outside the existing jail house structure.”
Of the seven applicants Vallario said that some were deemed not qualified for the position, and ultimately the decision came down to two applicants: Hopple, and a local resident, who was a former sheriff from the midwest (The sheriff didn't want to release the name of the applicant, or which state he was formerly a sheriff in).
Vallario and Undersheriff Colt Cornelius made the final decision.
Vallario said that the ultimate decision to promote Hopple was his loyalty to the department, his experience within the organization, and his understanding of the jail operations.
“I think it's more about that we already understand each other,” Vallario said. “I already know Steve's strengths and weaknesses, and he knows me and my personality.”
Hopple is also the husband of Sheriff's Office spokeswoman, Holly Hopple.
jgardner@postindependent.com
Starting Monday, July 6, former Garfield County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeant Stephen Hopple will move into his new position as the top boss at the jail.
Hopple, 36, has been employed with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office for about five years. According to Hopple, he's worked in several different positions including: Detention deputy, K-9 deputy, and most recently as a patrol sergeant.
Hopple has 15 years of law enforcement experience, has an associate's degree in business, is finishing a bachelor's degree in public administration, and will be working toward a master's degree in public administration as well. He spent close to seven years with the Eagle County Sheriff's Department and over three years with the Basalt Police Department before coming to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.
Hopple will be paid $72,000 annually, which Vallario said is consistent with the other commanders within the organization with equal years of experience. However, the pay is lower than the former jail commander Scott Dawson was paid.
The Sheriff's Office has been without a permanent jail commander since Dawson was fired in February. However, Sheriff Lou Vallario could not disclose the reason for Dawson's termination.
Vallario has said that Dawson's termination had nothing to do with the anonymous e-mail accusing Vallario of wrongdoing back in January, which Dawson was determined to have been the author of along with another former sheriff's office employee, corporal Al Walker.
Vallario said that the sheriff's office had only seven applicants for the open position.
“The process was disappointing as far as the number of people we had to select from,” Vallario said.
Of the seven applicants, three were from out of state, three were from other parts of Colorado, and Hopple was the only current county employee who applied, according to Vallario.
In March, Vallario told the Post Independent that he would look outside the “Sheriff's Office” for a candidate, because he felt that there was nobody within the “chain of command” who was qualified.
“My intent was to get somebody with a fresh point of view, with outside eyes to come in,” Vallario said. “The intent was to look outside the existing jail house structure.”
Of the seven applicants Vallario said that some were deemed not qualified for the position, and ultimately the decision came down to two applicants: Hopple, and a local resident, who was a former sheriff from the midwest (The sheriff didn't want to release the name of the applicant, or which state he was formerly a sheriff in).
Vallario and Undersheriff Colt Cornelius made the final decision.
Vallario said that the ultimate decision to promote Hopple was his loyalty to the department, his experience within the organization, and his understanding of the jail operations.
“I think it's more about that we already understand each other,” Vallario said. “I already know Steve's strengths and weaknesses, and he knows me and my personality.”
Hopple is also the husband of Sheriff's Office spokeswoman, Holly Hopple.
jgardner@postindependent.com
