Jack VanArsdol New: May 4, 2026.

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Jackie "Jack" Dean VanArsdol

Jack was born on May 27, 1946, in Evans, Colorado, the son of Virgil E. VanArsdol and Nevah J. Tupper.

He graduated from East High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming, before joining the United States Army on January 1, 1966. While in the Army he served as a Specialist 4th Class in Europe, with most of his time serving in Germany as a Military Policeman. He was honorably discharged on December 17, 1967. Jack later graduated from the FBI National Academy, an accomplishment that reflected his commitment to excellence in law enforcement.

Jack served in the Greeley Police Department, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and in the Weld County Sheriff's Office as a Captain and finally as Undersheriff. His career continued with distinction as he became Chief of Police for the Fruita Police Department and later for the Sheridan Police Department.

Jack served as the Sheridan Police Chief from July 1, 1986 through December 31, 1993. Jack was selected out of seventy applications. The search committee included Police Chief Howard Jakway from Wheat Ridge, Police Chief Dan Montgomery of Westminster, Police Chief Craig Camp of Littleton, along with two councilmembers, and the City Administrator. Jack brought over twenty years' law enforcement experience to Sheridan. His hire was unanimously approved by the City Council.

Jack was instrumental in elevating the service provided by the police department. As the new chief, Jack was faced with several pressing issues including a kidnapping, two homicides, getting ready for the new city hall and police station, and bringing the department's new computer system on line. Jack participated in couple of internal criminal investigations including a police officer child molestation case and an arson set by the fire chief in 1987. The arson case concluded with a successful conviction and full restitution after a three week trial.

Chief VanArsdol initiated a change in the work schedule. The officers had been working twelve-hour shifts, with three days on and three days off. Court time was in addition to scheduled regular work. VanArsdol changed the schedule to five work days per week, with officers working eight hours per day. The new police reserve officer program was put in place in 1987 with ten new reserve officers completing the program and being brought into service. That raised the number of reserve officers from four to fourteen.

Also in 1987 work was begun in earnest for the creation of a police department "Explorer Post" program. Procedures were written for the program. Officer Ray Sample was active in the creation of the program. Officer Sample had previously been involved with the Boy Scouts in some of their programs. The council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the program.

The chief started a restructuring of the department. Two divisions were created. The first division would focus on the administrative structure of the department. The second would focus on the operations part of the department. Part of the stimulus for the restructuring was to allow the chief to spend more time out in the community.

Jack met with William Bennett in July, 1989. Bennett was the Federal Drug Czar. This photograph with Jack on the right was taken by then Sheriff Patrick J. Sullivan Jr.

The city suffered from cash flow problems in 1989 which resulted in change of city administrators. During the interim Jack served as the Acting City Administrator from April 25 through December 10, 1989. Very reminiscent of when Jack was the Acting Public Works Director in Fruita while also their police chief.

During 1990 Jack In another first for the department, promoted police officer Mary Nixon to sergeant. This marked the first time in the history of the department that a woman held a commissioned supervisory position within the department.

In another first, the department applied for and received accreditation from the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. This was the first time the department received formal and professional accreditation. The official presentation of the accreditation was made to the City Council by Chief Robert Gallaway from Brighton on February 12, 1991.

Also in 1991 the department created a "Senor Program." Part of the program was a daily phone call made to seniors living alone to confirm their wellbeing. Several senior parties and picnics were held as a part of the program. Gifts and donations were given by local merchants including Pace Membership Warehouse. At one event, there were almost seven hundred seniors in attendance. 1992 marked the first "quiet" year since Jack became chief. In still another first, a victim assistance program was created in 1993 by the department. In 1993 the city again faced cash shortages and staff reductions. Jack had seen it before in Fruita and chose to retire from law enforcement at the end of 1993.

After retiring from police work, Jack co-founded a software company CCSSCO (Custom Computer Software Systems, Inc.). The company provided computer information management systems to law enforcement agencies across the region. The software supported police record keeping and was the first software to be approved by the State of Colorado for online reporting to NIBRS (National Incident Reporting System). The software also provided computer aided dispatching, detention management, property and evidence control, accident reporting, citations, and other processes. Jack also served as president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. He fully retired in 2021.

Jack's dedication to service extended into his spiritual life. He was a devoted member and elder at South Suburban Christian Church for forty-years from 1986 until his passing, where his faith and leadership touched many.

Jack, at age 79, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026, in Lone Tree, Colorado. In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his brother, Kent VanArsdol.

Jack is survived by his wife Betty VanArsdol, whom he married June 19,1966, his daughters Cindy VanArsdol and Michelle Ellis, his grandchildren Caris Ellis, Kimber Yates, Thomas Ellis, his sisters Florence Christensen, Janice Case, and Vicki Miller. His brothers Keith VanArsdol and Kevin VanArsdol along with the extended families that meant the world to him. Jack was interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

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