Bob Braudis returned to office two Mondays back after a seven week absence. During his leave, as reported in the Daily News, senior officials in Pitkin County could not attest for his whereabouts.
Reading and following this story, I’m a bit dumbfounded.
Personally, I can not recall any organization–public or private–where the leader/CEO/chief leaves mid-job unaccounted for almost two months, returning “refreshed” as if nothing serious has happened, without any implications.
How can you run an effective and efficient operation being absent for
two months, without clear communication to your constituents and
stakeholders where you are, how you can be reached, and how key decisions are made?
Heck even Mike Brown (“Brownie you’re doing a heck of a job”) only took a few hours off to have dinner during the middle of Katrina.
Why did people in Aspen not pay more attention to this issue? If we take our public safety seriously, wouldn’t an unexplained leave of our public safety leader for almost two months make bigger news?
I mean, if Braudis can just leave for this period of time, unaccounted for, why do we even need a sheriff?
Clearly, it’s because the Sheriff department is operating in neutral, spinning its gears, going about as business as usual as it has been for two decades. The reality is that Bob could leave because this organization is literally running on autopilot.
However, it’s pretty clear to me that events in 2006, even in Aspen, are not business as usual. We have issues to think about–maybe terrorism is a long shot here, but definitely not the encroachment of hard drugs such as meth and crystalized cocaine, which have entered the Valley–and the need to make sure the department runs efficiently and effectively in an age of diminishing resources.
We should really demand more from our elected officials. What could Bob have done in the seven weeks he was gone? We’re not
talking about making sure it was safe for fireworks (although that would have been nice). I can think of a few things:
* Bob could have been auditing and updating his department’s policies
and procedures (its manuals and records are badly outdated)
* He could be developing and refining emergency response plans to low probability but high impact potential threats (bird flu, terrorist strike)
* He could be improving training processes
* He could be building bridges and effective communications channels to other safety organizations (Aspen police and fire)
* He could be bolstering the County’s presence in drug education programs in the schools
* He could look into why domestic violence is up in the county almost 100% from 2004 to 2005
* Heck, he could even be campaigning for his own re-election!
*********
While this issue is now “in the past,” I don’t think it should go away as
we enter the election season.
To me, the seven-week vacation raises serious concerns about Braudis’ operational competency going forward–and will seriously undermine his credibility on this issue as Rick Magnuson challenges him for the job.
I know a lot of people right now are not taking Rick’s campaign seriously, but I am supporting and helping Rick in his campaign as I think he can bring in the type of change that is needed to an organization running on autopilot in an age where we need a steady, active hand on the stick.
I would not underestimate Rick–he’s pretty savvy. He has excellent interpersonal skills and relations in the community, significant training, over ten years of experience in Aspen police work, and a strong passion to bring change. Known for being an eccentric and bold artist, it’s just this persona that made him “crazy” enough to enter the race and offer an alternative to Bob. Now that he’s in, I think people are going to be VERY surprised on his platform and what he
could bring to the job.
We should be thankful that we now (and finally) have a two-person race for Sheriff. Heck, even Cuba could soon be having multi-candidate democratic elections. Why not Aspen sheriff? I hope, if anything else, a little competition in this race will help keep our publicly elected sheriff’s office accountable to us—its customers.
Hey, if it could work for Cuba, it could work for Aspen.
This is after all a blog where only opinions matter(obviously) . Maybe we should be thankful that we have a very experienced Sheriff’s office that is capable of running without one man for a while!! The Deputies and Investigators that are with the SO are very experienced and as of today I have heard of no problems arrising in the Sheriff’s absence except for the hogwash from one or two lone Magnusons supporters!! How about driving a U Haul around the roundabout god knows how many times so you could watch a goldfish in a fish bowl……now everyone has their own art form………sounds a little crazy to me!!! We can as Rick exactly how many times. As someone said to me regarding Sheriff Braudis Idealogy and wisdom go a long way in this world.
This is after all a blog where only opinions matter(obviously) . Maybe we should be thankful that we have a very experienced Sheriff’s office that is capable of running without one man for a while!! The Deputies and Investigators that are with the SO are very experienced and as of today I have heard of no problems arrising in the Sheriff’s absence except for the hogwash from one or two lone Magnusons supporters!! How about driving a U Haul around the roundabout god knows how many times so you could watch a goldfish in a fish bowl……now everyone has their own art form………sounds a little crazy to me!!! We can as Rick exactly how many times. As someone said to me regarding Sheriff Braudis Idealogy and wisdom go a long way in this world.
it seems the sheriff’s absence has been explained. Funny how there is no link to the in-depth reporting on the subject in the Aspen Daily News. What’s not funny, just sad, are the errors in this blog and in the crap Michael Conniff has been making up about the sheriff. This blog says “as reported in the Daily News” but the Con Man (yes he really is a con man and not ashamed to admit it) keeps saying the Daily News hasn’t reported anything about the sheriff’s whereabouts — another lie, as the paper reported where he was in a story about how busy the sheriff’s office was during Aspen Ideas Fest a while back. Also, the sheriff was not gone seven weeks as mistakenly reported here. Why don’t one of you eggheads actually talk to the man rather than hide behind this lame website. Michael Brylawski says he is dumbfounded. I submit he’s just dumb.
it seems the sheriff’s absence has been explained. Funny how there is no link to the in-depth reporting on the subject in the Aspen Daily News. What’s not funny, just sad, are the errors in this blog and in the crap Michael Conniff has been making up about the sheriff. This blog says “as reported in the Daily News” but the Con Man (yes he really is a con man and not ashamed to admit it) keeps saying the Daily News hasn’t reported anything about the sheriff’s whereabouts — another lie, as the paper reported where he was in a story about how busy the sheriff’s office was during Aspen Ideas Fest a while back. Also, the sheriff was not gone seven weeks as mistakenly reported here. Why don’t one of you eggheads actually talk to the man rather than hide behind this lame website. Michael Brylawski says he is dumbfounded. I submit he’s just dumb.
A few responses to the comments. First off, I appreciate them–this is why I don’t think “bloggers suck” but instead offer a great forum for discussion.
Of course, I’d appreciate if the discourse was a bit more civil–calling me “dumb” and my post “hogwash” seems a bit over-the-top Fox news-ish. But that said, I like that this is garnering discussion.
Second, let me say that I like Bob Braudis and a lot of things that he stands for, but he’s run unopposed for four elections, and having competition in this election will be good for Pitkin County. I argue that the office has been running on autopilot, as Bob has been insulated for the need to change to address some modern realities and implement more up-top-date management techniques and policing tools.
As for the comments:
* “the Daily News hasn’t reported anything about the sheriff’s whereabouts — another lie, as the paper reported where he was in a story about how busy the sheriff’s office was during Aspen Ideas Fest a while back.”
His absense was explained in yesterday’s (Saturday) Daily News, several days after my post. Where Bob actually was, an alchohol rehab and treatment center, is another matter I will address in my next post. I wish Bob the best in his recovery.
Until the Daily News article yesterday, (at least online) there was no article on where Bob was, and a Pitkin County official was quoted in that paper on saying they were not aware of his whereabouts.
* “Also, the sheriff was not gone seven weeks as mistakenly reported here.”
Bob was gone for seven weeks–three on vacation, and four on health leave. Check the records.
*”Maybe we should be thankful that we have a very experienced Sheriff’s office that is capable of running without one man for a while!!”
I’m sure a lot of organizations absent a crisis (which we didn’t have this summer) would run fine for a while without its leader. But again, as I ask, why even have a Sheriff or leader then?
Because complex organizations (even smaller ones like the Pitkin County Sheriff Office) require leadership and ultimately single-point decision making when tough decisions need to be made, and active guidance to improve operations in the downtimes.
Fortunately, in the seven weeks he was gone we did not face a crisis or other chain-of-command issue (e.g., something that may require coordination with Aspen police). But what if we did? As well, a dynamic leader would take “down time” to look at improving his or her organization. I suggested several ways (not addressed in the critiques) he could be spending his downtime. But again, it shows me that this department is truly running on autopilot–something I don’t think is a good strategy given the realities of the 21st century.
Regardless, I appreciate these comments and the posts and look forward to a good bit of dialogue as we enter this election season.
A few responses to the comments. First off, I appreciate them–this is why I don’t think “bloggers suck” but instead offer a great forum for discussion.
Of course, I’d appreciate if the discourse was a bit more civil–calling me “dumb” and my post “hogwash” seems a bit over-the-top Fox news-ish. But that said, I like that this is garnering discussion.
Second, let me say that I like Bob Braudis and a lot of things that he stands for, but he’s run unopposed for four elections, and having competition in this election will be good for Pitkin County. I argue that the office has been running on autopilot, as Bob has been insulated for the need to change to address some modern realities and implement more up-top-date management techniques and policing tools.
As for the comments:
* “the Daily News hasn’t reported anything about the sheriff’s whereabouts — another lie, as the paper reported where he was in a story about how busy the sheriff’s office was during Aspen Ideas Fest a while back.”
His absense was explained in yesterday’s (Saturday) Daily News, several days after my post. Where Bob actually was, an alchohol rehab and treatment center, is another matter I will address in my next post. I wish Bob the best in his recovery.
Until the Daily News article yesterday, (at least online) there was no article on where Bob was, and a Pitkin County official was quoted in that paper on saying they were not aware of his whereabouts.
* “Also, the sheriff was not gone seven weeks as mistakenly reported here.”
Bob was gone for seven weeks–three on vacation, and four on health leave. Check the records.
*”Maybe we should be thankful that we have a very experienced Sheriff’s office that is capable of running without one man for a while!!”
I’m sure a lot of organizations absent a crisis (which we didn’t have this summer) would run fine for a while without its leader. But again, as I ask, why even have a Sheriff or leader then?
Because complex organizations (even smaller ones like the Pitkin County Sheriff Office) require leadership and ultimately single-point decision making when tough decisions need to be made, and active guidance to improve operations in the downtimes.
Fortunately, in the seven weeks he was gone we did not face a crisis or other chain-of-command issue (e.g., something that may require coordination with Aspen police). But what if we did? As well, a dynamic leader would take “down time” to look at improving his or her organization. I suggested several ways (not addressed in the critiques) he could be spending his downtime. But again, it shows me that this department is truly running on autopilot–something I don’t think is a good strategy given the realities of the 21st century.
Regardless, I appreciate these comments and the posts and look forward to a good bit of dialogue as we enter this election season.
I’m just wondering what all the fuss about……Sheriff Braudis has gone away before on vacation/leave and no one was beating down the door to know where he was staying in Mexico….seems to me that this only matters now when there is an election coming up. Really folks we are not that stupid. Hats off to a man whom would like to improve his way of life. Rick needs any edge he can get as he has NO experience. Plus after reading the paper this weekend seems to me he’s running for the wrong position….Chief of Police comes to mind !!!
Rick has accused people of lying to him in the article….and then said that he will do what is necessary to get to the truth by lying!! Magnuson is not above the law. I think that’s carrie!!
I’m just wondering what all the fuss about……Sheriff Braudis has gone away before on vacation/leave and no one was beating down the door to know where he was staying in Mexico….seems to me that this only matters now when there is an election coming up. Really folks we are not that stupid. Hats off to a man whom would like to improve his way of life. Rick needs any edge he can get as he has NO experience. Plus after reading the paper this weekend seems to me he’s running for the wrong position….Chief of Police comes to mind !!!
Rick has accused people of lying to him in the article….and then said that he will do what is necessary to get to the truth by lying!! Magnuson is not above the law. I think that’s carrie!!
There are 75,000 new blogs a day–some good, some bad, but all of them a sign than new songs are being sung instead of the same old, same old.
Without Aspen Post, Sheriff Braudis slips out of town from seven weeks, comes back from rehab, and nobody says a thing. Why? Because he is so entrenched that (a) he has many, many friends like the anonymous jackals herein; and (b) he’s too powerful for anyone to cross.
One of the commenters accuses me of “making up crap” but this story about the disappearing Sheriff is just too good to make up.
There are 75,000 new blogs a day–some good, some bad, but all of them a sign than new songs are being sung instead of the same old, same old.
Without Aspen Post, Sheriff Braudis slips out of town from seven weeks, comes back from rehab, and nobody says a thing. Why? Because he is so entrenched that (a) he has many, many friends like the anonymous jackals herein; and (b) he’s too powerful for anyone to cross.
One of the commenters accuses me of “making up crap” but this story about the disappearing Sheriff is just too good to make up.
I know what a bunch of lies you Mikes are printing but here goes…….Sheriff Braudis went on vacation for about three weeks…prior to that he was ill and in and out of his office during that time certainly not missing in action…
I will no longer be one of your 500,000 hits (JOKE) I can’t go on…..reading the BS. It’s obvious to me Coniff why you could never be a real journalist..
I know what a bunch of lies you Mikes are printing but here goes…….Sheriff Braudis went on vacation for about three weeks…prior to that he was ill and in and out of his office during that time certainly not missing in action…
I will no longer be one of your 500,000 hits (JOKE) I can’t go on…..reading the BS. It’s obvious to me Coniff why you could never be a real journalist..
“I will no longer be one of your 500,000 hits (JOKE) I can’t go on…..reading the BS. It’s obvious to me Coniff why you could never be a real journalist.”
While I usually label this as a liberal tactic, I can’t in this case because Mike Coniff is a liberal, but it’s interesting to point out the tactic anyway.
First – If you can’t refute the information you call it BS, garbage, lies, etc. Second, you state that you can no longer debate the information for whatever reason, and third, you launch into personal attacks against the author because you have nothing left.
The above is a perfect example of all this. I guess when you don’t drink the Braudis cool aid, you are bound to be “put on a rail” in this town.
“I will no longer be one of your 500,000 hits (JOKE) I can’t go on…..reading the BS. It’s obvious to me Coniff why you could never be a real journalist.”
While I usually label this as a liberal tactic, I can’t in this case because Mike Coniff is a liberal, but it’s interesting to point out the tactic anyway.
First – If you can’t refute the information you call it BS, garbage, lies, etc. Second, you state that you can no longer debate the information for whatever reason, and third, you launch into personal attacks against the author because you have nothing left.
The above is a perfect example of all this. I guess when you don’t drink the Braudis cool aid, you are bound to be “put on a rail” in this town.
I’m going to post tonight a longer blog on the recent article on the Daily News.
But first, I want to put the issue of Bob’s absense to rest. Particularly, to quickly (again) address the accusations of “lies” in the previous blog on Braudis’ absence:
The Desert Canyon program (go to the website) is a 28 day program–that is 4 weeks.
For 3 weeks before that, when he was “in and out” of work, he was reportedly in the office at MOST twice, each time for a half hour–essentially missing. If you want to call that “being at work,” so be it, but I would call that being absent.
Thus, that is where the 7 weeks of unaccounted absense comes from. We can debate the first three weeks, it will be hard to debate the last four.
That said, this is how I’m going to approach my blogging–no personal attacks (on Bob, Rick, or any of the bloggers), and debating the issues head-on. I will always lay the facts as I understand them–and make my opinions explicit, with my logic transparent–on the table, and hope good dialogues emerge that can challenge and debate these facts.
I’d ask that people as well put their names besides their posts and refrain from personal attacks, but so be it if that is how some people want to engage. I promise that I will always post with my name attached, and never make a personal attack (although I will debate against ideals, philosophies, quotes, incidents, etc.).
I see the Aspen Post as a great unfiltered way to have a constructive dialogue in our community. No, it is not a newspaper–it is unfiltered opinions and (at least in my blogs) facts that can be backed up through research, and are free to be debated (sort of like a local wiki).
Either way, this is an exciting tool to now have in our community!!!
I’m going to post tonight a longer blog on the recent article on the Daily News.
But first, I want to put the issue of Bob’s absense to rest. Particularly, to quickly (again) address the accusations of “lies” in the previous blog on Braudis’ absence:
The Desert Canyon program (go to the website) is a 28 day program–that is 4 weeks.
For 3 weeks before that, when he was “in and out” of work, he was reportedly in the office at MOST twice, each time for a half hour–essentially missing. If you want to call that “being at work,” so be it, but I would call that being absent.
Thus, that is where the 7 weeks of unaccounted absense comes from. We can debate the first three weeks, it will be hard to debate the last four.
That said, this is how I’m going to approach my blogging–no personal attacks (on Bob, Rick, or any of the bloggers), and debating the issues head-on. I will always lay the facts as I understand them–and make my opinions explicit, with my logic transparent–on the table, and hope good dialogues emerge that can challenge and debate these facts.
I’d ask that people as well put their names besides their posts and refrain from personal attacks, but so be it if that is how some people want to engage. I promise that I will always post with my name attached, and never make a personal attack (although I will debate against ideals, philosophies, quotes, incidents, etc.).
I see the Aspen Post as a great unfiltered way to have a constructive dialogue in our community. No, it is not a newspaper–it is unfiltered opinions and (at least in my blogs) facts that can be backed up through research, and are free to be debated (sort of like a local wiki).
Either way, this is an exciting tool to now have in our community!!!