Former Sheriff Patrick Sullivan’s name was stripped from the Arapahoe County Jail April 10, just a week after he pleaded guilty to drug and prostitution charges in a methamphetamine-for-sex scandal.
During their regular meeting Tuesday morning in Littleton, county commissioners voted unanimously to change the jail’s name from the Patrick J. Sullivan Detention Center to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, who pushed for the named change, said crews stripped Sullivan’s name from the jail immediately after the commissioners voted.
Robinson said the new name matches the jail’s name from its construction in 1986 until commissioners renamed it in Sullivan’s honor following his 2002 retirement.
Sullivan pleaded guilty last week to methamphetamine possession and soliciting a prostitute. In exchange, prosecutors dropped other charges against him, including attempt to influence a public servant and meth distribution.
The 69-year-old was subsequently sentenced to 30 days in county jail and two years of supervised probation.
Had he been convicted of all the charges against him, Sullivan could have faced up to 19 years in prison.
Sullivan’s arrest in November shocked the community in which he served as sheriff for almost 20 years.
Investigators began looking into Sullivan after learning from several sources that he may be involved in meth use and distribution, according to the sheriff’s office.
On Nov. 17, sheriff’s investigators and the South Metro Drug Task Force set up a sting at an Aurora home. When Sullivan arrived, he gave meth to a man in exchange for a sex. After he handed the man the drugs, investigators swooped in and arrested Sullivan. The entire transaction was video recorded.
After Sullivan’s arrest, county officials said they planned to look into the practice of naming county facilities after living people.
Reach reporter Brandon Johansson at 720-449-9040 or bjohansson@aurorasentinel.com