Jefferson County Undersheriff Ray Fleer imagines he will probably play an occasional round of golf with his colleagues at the sheriff's office during his retirement.
But golf is not one of the pastimes he'll give high priority. He enjoys the social aspect of the game, but he admittedly is not very good at it.
"I'd rather go fishing," Fleer said.
Fleer, 63, retired Sept. 1 after 37 years with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Before that, he spent about five years as a patrol officer with the Gunnison Police Department during college.
He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Western State, but he always wanted to be a police officer. Fleer envisioned an exciting career that gave him an opportunity to be involved in the community.
And exciting it was, he said. "No two days were alike."
The undersheriff --; which Fleer considers to be the best seat in the house --; manages the operations of the sheriff's office. In Jeffco, that includes four divisions: detentions/jail; support services, which is everything from dispatch to IT to recruiting; patrol; and investigations.
"This role is responsible for making sure people are well-trained, prepared to do their job and that we have the right people in the right position," Fleer said.
Ted Mink, former Jeffco sheriff who now works with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, appointed Fleer as undersheriff in 2003, after Fleer had been chief for a couple of different divisions.
"It was a great 12 years we had together," Mink said, adding that Fleer had the respect of everyone in the sheriff's office --; and the people of Jefferson County.
And he has a great sense of humor, Mink said. "You have to have that in this job."
Sheriff Jeff Shrader is appointing Division Chief Patsy Mundell as his new undersheriff. Mundell joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in 1986 and has been a division chief since 2002.
Through the years, Mundell has worked in every division of the sheriff's office and, she said, learned something new from every one of them.
"Throughout my career, (Fleer) was my supervisor," Mundell said. "He's an excellent mentor, very compassionate. I never felt I was working for him, always with him."
At Fleer's retirement celebration, Shrader presented Fleer with a sheriff's star --; a special recognition rarely awarded, and then only at the discretion of the sheriff, Shrader said.
Fleer "has been instrumental in leading the sheriff's office in an operational role, through tough times and in preparation for the future," Shrader said. "We're going to miss him deeply."
In Fleer's opinion, it was he who had the privilege of working with two sheriffs with distinctly different styles. He enjoyed all his colleagues and said he will miss most the people with whom he worked alongside.
"You form so many relationships with incredible people," he said. "Even with 825 employees, it still retains somewhat of a family feel."
Among the changes Fleer has seen over the years, one of the best is the advanced training law enforcement now receives --; a benefit to the community and deputies --; to address increasing challenges that include mental health issues on patrol and in detention.
When Fleer started in law enforcement, there was only a five-week training academy. Now, officers spend 22 weeks in the academy, followed by an additional 16 weeks of field training.
"The job has gotten so complex," he said.
Now, he's anticipating simpler days.
Fleer has been married to his wife Ellen, an attendant secretary at a local elementary school, for 44 years. She plans on finishing up this school year before she retires.
The Fleers raised one son, Jason, 40, who has two children --; a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old --; who are involved in high school sports. Fleer is looking forward to more fishing trips with his son and attending his grandchildren's swim meets and cheerleading events.
And Fleer and his wife will continue to live in south Jefferson County.
"It is," he said, "kind of the center of our life right now."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://goldentranscript.net/stories/A-star-in-the-operations-role,234864?branding=15
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