Chief Jacob "Jake" Shirk has dedicated the last 35 years to law enforcement.  He has served as the Chief of the Police Department for the Town of Monument since 2005 after 29 years of service with the Aurora Police Department. As an active NRA member and supporter of the Second Amendment, Chief Jake adamantly believes in an individual's right to own and carry a firearm and is working hard to lead the way on Freedom to Carry legislation like the new Arizona legislation that passed in 2010. He has been married for 34 years to his wife, Vanessa, and they have four children and ten grandchildren. In addition to being active in his church and the community, Chief Jake is a life-long Republican.

Chief Jake's background in law enforcement includes a B.S. in Criminology from Metropolitan State College and an M.A. in Management from the University of Phoenix. He shares his experience and knowledge by teaching as an adjunct professor at Colorado Technical University in the Criminal Justice Program.  He is well-known and respected in the law enforcement community. His impressive career provides experience and insight that constitute a solid foundation for running the Sheriff's office, while bringing new ideas and perspective to its operations.
 

Experience 

Chief Jake's opponent (Terry Maketa) said in a fundraising letter that Shirk is "inexperienced" and "ignorant," stacking his  23 years of law enforcement experience against Jake Shirk's 35. Compare for yourself... click here to download Chief Jake's resume and then click here to check out our opponent's website and resume. Better yet, give Terry a call (719) 520-7100 and ask to see his full resume so you can compare them side by side.

When Chief Jake Shirk left the Aurora Police Department he did so as a Captain managing 190 employees, a 14 million dollar budget, and serving over 100,000 people in the third largest city in Colorado in a county the same size as El Paso.

Jake currently serves as the Chief of the town of Monument's Police Department (1.2 million budget).  Since his tenure began in 2005, he has established several new programs unique to smaller towns such as Monument:

• Created a DART (Direct Action Response Team) with embedded EMTs in partnership with the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Department.
• Utilized local civilian technology expertise to establish a Computer Forensic Unit providing an invaluable resource not only for Monument crime investigations but other law enforcement agencies in the region.
• Partnered with other Law Enforcement Agencies in multi-jurisdictional grants to support specialized and joint investigations into Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), Auto Theft Recovery Investigations, and Elderly Abuse Training.
• Implemented a Police Officer Reserve program which resulted in enhanced patrol capability at minimal cost.
• Instituted a Community Youth Officer (CYO) program dedicated to interacting and working with young people in the community.
• Conducted Citizen's Emergency Response Training (CERT) courses to help residents become self-sufficient during times of crisis.
• Offered Citizen Police Academy sessions to educate the residents about the police department in particular, and law enforcement in general.
• Organized the Santa on Patrol program where contributions of money and toys are collected and then used to provide food and gifts to needy families in the community.  Santa on Patrol gifts are delivered using the Monument Police and Fire Department vehicles with sirens on and full lights blazing!

Chief Jake revised and implemented a new Policy Manual based upon recognized best law enforcement practices.  Moreover, he proposed updates to existing ordinances and set new ones in response to arising local issues not previously covered. From Feb. 2009 to Dec. 2009, Jake served as the interim Police Chief for Palmer Lake, assisting in their search for a new Chief while simultaneously continuing his duties for the town of Monument with the full support of Monument's elected officials and management.

Prior to joining the Monument P.D., Chief Jake was with the Aurora Police Department for 29 years, retiring at the rank of Captain.  During this period with Aurora P.D. Chief Jake had a number of responsibilities across a broad spectrum of duties:

• District Commander
  
  • Largest District Section in Aurora (100,000 citizens)
  • 14 Million+ Budget
  • 190 Employees
• S.W.A.T Commander (2+ years)
  • Multiple commendations
  • 40+ Officer SWAT Team
• Aurora Jail Commander
  • 4 Years
  • 3 Million+ Budget
  • 200+ Bed Facility
  • Max security prisoners
• 911/Dispatch Commander
  • 50+ Staff/Supervisors
• Detective & District Station Commander
  • Responsible for Fleet Operations
  • Various Budget Responsibilities
  • Member, Tactical Committee
  • Academy Instructor
  • Rewrote S.O.P. for Entire Department
  • Staff Inspections of the Vice and  Narcotics Unit

• Chief Jake applied for and received a multiple year grant from the "Violence Against Women's Act" that was used to enhance the prosecution of Domestic Violence perpetrators.
   
• In addition to receiving several Unit Citations and a Meritorious Service Ribbon, Jake was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award given by the department.

Awards / Recognition

2009 - Law Enforcement Executive Certification - Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police
2005 - Plaque from “The Link” City of Aurora for supporting the program, the link between animal abuse and       domestic abuse.
2003 - Meritorious Service Ribbon as the acting SWAT Commander the SWAT team successfully completed an explosive entry rescuing two hostages with multiple shots fired.
2003 - Chief’s Unit Citation as the acting SWAT Commander the SWAT team successfully completed an explosive entry rescuing two hostages with multiple shots fired.
2003 - Unit Citation for SWAT as the acting SWAT Commander the SWAT team successfully completed several extremely hazardous missions.
2003 - Elected Chairman of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Leadership Aurora Board of Directors
2003 - Chief’s Commendation for coordinating the City of Aurora's response to Anthrax
2003 - Commander’s Commendation for the “Santa on Patrol” program
2002 - Letter of Appreciation from the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command
2002 - Letter of Thanks from Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer for participating in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics
2000 - Commanders Commendation for organizing SWAT to participate in the Colorado Special Olympics
2000 - Chief’s Commendation for Y2K preparation as the SWAT Commander
1999 - ASIS Award for “Outstanding contribution to the Investigation and Criminal Prosecution of Domestic Violence in the State of Colorado”
1993 - Campaign Ribbon for the Papal Visit
1993 - Chief's Letter of Recognition on a Suicidal Subject
1992 - Distinguished Service Cross for Extraordinary Heroism
1990 - Chief's Letter of Recognition for attempting to save the life of a child in a burning building
1990 - Letter of Recognition from the Denver Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
1989 - CALEA Certificate of Commendation
1985 - Chief's Letter of Recognition
1984 - Chief's Letter of Recognition
1983 - Meritorious Service Commendation
1983 - Honored by the Cherry Creek Optimist Club for “Outstanding Service to the Profession and Community"
1981 - Selected as one of the top three officers in Aurora

Training

Management / Leadership / Supervisory

2008 - Law Enforcement Media Training, LaBarbera Media Group
2007 - Motivation through Consequences, International Association of Chiefs of Police
2007 - Organizational Culture, International Association of Chiefs of Police
2007 - Recruiting the New Officer, International Association of Chiefs of Police
2007 - Missing and Exploited Children Chief Executive Officer Seminar
2006 - Chief Executive Officer Safe School Forum, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
2005 - Administering a Small Law Enforcement Agency, International Association of Chiefs of Police
2005 - Preventing Sexual Harassment
2001 - Risk Management, Colorado Association of Chief of Police, emphasis on how to use the principles of managing risk as a decision maker
2000 - SWAT Supervisors’ Tactics and Management provided by the International Association of Chiefs of Police
2000 - Aurora Chamber of Commerce “Leadership Aurora”, 9-month leadership training program for managers and executives
2000 - City of Aurora Police Department Protégé Program, mentored by a Division Chief
2000 - Texpro Conference on Special Tactics and Security,  emphasis on management of tactical teams
1999 to 2000 - Completion of the “Leadership Aurora Program”, Chamber of Commerce
1999 - Emergency Program Manager Course,  FEMA
1998 - Senior Commanders Program,  University of Colorado
1995 - Senior Commanders College, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police
1995 - University of Colorado Denver, Graduate School of Public Affairs,
1995 - Western Institute for Police Administration, Senior Commanders Program
1995 - FBI Executive Management Seminar

Operational

2001 - HDTA seminar on Russian Culture and Organized Crime
1999 - State and Local Anti-Terrorism Response and Preparedness provided by the Bureau of Justice
1999 - Civil Disturbance Tactics for management and supervisors provided by the American Law Enforcement INC
1999 - Emergency Response to Terrorism, FEMA
1999 - Weapons of Mass Destruction Advanced Operations, Fort McClellan, Alabama, provided by the United States
           Department of Justice, 40 hour live nerve agent response training and Incident Command training, Auburn University
1999 - Train the Trainer – Emergency Responder Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Responder Awareness Course, Operations Course,
           and Incident Command Course provided by the United States National Domestic Preparedness Program
1998 - Assessor for Assessment Center Process Training, Washington DC, Morris and McDaniel, Inc.
1994 - The Legal Aspects of Employee Discipline and Evaluation, Padgett Thompson
1993 - How to Handle Angry and Emotional People, Keye Productivity
1993 - Northwestern University Traffic Institute, “Critical Incidents Communication for Dispatchers Seminar”
1990 - FBI “Negotiation and Tactical Concepts for Commanders
1988 - Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy, “Performance Evaluation”
1988 - Straight Baton Training, Aurora
1987 - University of Colorado at Denver, Graduate School of Public Affairs, Sergeants Training
1987 - FBI Executive Development Seminar
1987 - Colorado Chiefs of Police “Winning at Assessment”
1986 - Association of Public Communications Organization – Supervisors Workshop
1982 - Supervisor In-Service Training
1982 - Colorado Bureau of Investigations CCIC Purpose and Use
1982 - Forensic and Chemical Tests, Aurora
1981 - Street Survival: Tactics for Armed Encounters, Calibre Inc.
1979 - Stress Management and Officer Survival, Denver Police
1978 - Field Officer Survival, 40 hours, Aurora
1976 - Fundamentals of Law Enforcement, 656 Hours, Aurora Police Academy

Professional / Volunteer

2008 to Present - Adjunct Professor at Colorado Technical University in the Criminal Justice Program
2004 - Member of the Board of Directors of the North Aurora Business Association (NABA)
2002 to 2004 - Selected by the Mayor, Chief of Police, and Fire Chief of the Town of Castle Rock to serve as a Public Safety Commissioner
2003 to 2004 - Chairman of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce "Leadership Aurora" Board of Directors reporting to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and responsible for coordinating a leadership training program designed for supervisors, managers, and executives in both the private and public sector
1999 - Elected Class President of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Program
1995 - Elected as the Class President of the Senior Commanders College, Colorado Association Chiefs of Police
1994 to 1995 - Elected First Vice President of the Association of Public Communication Officials, Colorado Chapter