Sheriff Braudis seems like a "cool" guy...

Phaedo1982 · Geek with String Warts Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 29

I have to admit that every time I've seen Bob Braudis on camera, he seems like one hell of a cool guy. I've seen him on Hunter documentaries and also on A&E talking about a famous murder case in Aspen.

In all the times I've seen him in picture or on screen, I've never seen him totting a uniform, gun, or badge. He doesn't seem to flash his "police gear" as much as other "law enforcement types." (We once had a police chief, which in our town is mostly administrative, feel the need to wear combat-style BDUs to work - not that there's anything wrong with that.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it just doesn't seem like he flashes (or flaunts) his LE status much, which is damn cool for a top cop. Most feel that's a perk of the job and would "display status" much more.

Most cops pose, making sure that their holsters and badges are shown; I've not seen one picture of him like that.

And, it's pretty cool that he was open about his friendship with Hunter and his background, as a self-described "ski bum."

Wayne - how did the Good Doctor and the Sheriff meet?

Doctor Damage · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:16 am Post subject:

Good observations about his public appearances and the lack of an in-your-face police image. I noticed that too and have always wondered (hopefully Wayne will have some insights). Braudis probably believes in "serving and protecting his fellow citizens" like cops are supposed to do, rather than "monitoring and controlling the civilians" like most cops today seem to prefer.

Phaedo1982 · Geek with String Warts Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 29

He seems like a rare breed, indeed. A cop who can think outside of the box, seems relatively open and honest for a LEO, and a guy who wouldn't have given John Rambo a ride to the edge of the town...

And his lack of uniform and other associated LE pagantry actually make him seem like more of a "badass," in a sense - like a guy who might actually be tough and fair, but doesn't need to hide behind a uniform.

Doctor Damage · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:03 am Post subject:

Wayne · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:45 am Post subject:

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, but I've been concentrating on the new vodcast here at the site.
Interesting that you guys are talking about Sheriff Bob Braudis. I'm just about to interview him for Breakfast with Hunter Vol. 2.
I have a couple of very interesting scenes with Sheriff Bob and Hunter that I will intercut with the interview.
I don't know the story of exactly how Hunter and Bob met but will ask.
Sheriff Bob is a very special man, truly a giant literally and figuratively. He came from Boston in the early 70's, leaving a good business job behind to be a ski bum here in Aspen. Late in the 70's we had a miserable ski season - no snow - so Bob decided he better get a real job.
Dick Kienast was the Sheriff of Pitkin County at the time. In 1970 when Hunter ran for Sheriff he planned to appoint Kienast the Undersheriff if he won so that Kienast would do the actual work, while Hunter would set the tone and philosophy. After Hunter lost, Kienast ran in the next election and won. Kienast represented the philosophy of "community policing" - helping people rather than busting heads - that ultimately Braudis took even further here in the valley from the mid-eighties until now. A couple elections ago the people of Pitkin County ended term limiits for the Sheriff so that Braudis could be re-elected. He's up for re-election once again next year.
I first got to know Braudis well when we did the Louisville gig that appears in Breakfast with Hunter. Since I went to Louisville a day early to advance the appearance, Braudis was responsible for getting Hunter to Louisville - no easy task.
Hunter always suspected that when he was busted in the early 90's by Gale Palmer Slater - the porn producer who came to Owl Farm and then called the police - that in fact the feds were using her in an attempt to bust Braudis: either the ATF or the FBI thought that her actions against Hunter would cause Braudis to somehow aid Hunter illegally, giving them a reason to bust him as well. Hunter might have been right, but I doubt the feds had that much intelligence.
Being "Hunter Thompson's Sheriff" was never easy for Braudis and most would have shied from any association. Yet Sheriff Bob Braudis consistently stood up for his friend, never disavowing him, yet treating the numerous charges and accusations against Hunter over the years very professionally. He's still the most popular politician in Pitkin County, Colorado.
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Polo is My Life

Doctor Damage · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:24 am Post subject:

^ Great story about Braudis and Kienast. I had assumed Braudis was first elected and had long retired by now. He sounds like a man in a million and impossible to replace. It's a shame that more cops aren't like him or this would be a better world.