Police frequency

BYE BYE, BOB!

After an incredible 45-year career in law enforcement, today we say goodbye to Bureau Chief Bob Stef, who is officially retiring from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado.

Bob began his career in 1980 at just 22 years old. For perspective, that was the year Mount St. Helens erupted, and John Lennon of the Beatles was killed.

Bob was born in California and at the age of 14, moved to Aurora with his parents and three siblings. He graduated from Gateway High School and Regis University (Regis College back then), majoring in Business Administration. He was also a standout baseball player. His law enforcement career began when the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office hired him to work in the jail. He didn’t stay long, though. In 1981, he joined the Englewood Police Department, where he spent 10 years working patrol, as a motorcycle officer, and a detective.

In 1991, Bob joined the Aurora Police Department, where he would spend the next 26 years. During his time there, he worked patrol, served as a Public Information Officer, and rose through the ranks to Captain. In 2005, he worked the infamous Aarone Thompson case, involving the disappearance of a six-year-old girl whose parents were later arrested for her murder. Bob also responded to the Aurora Theatre Shooting in July of 2012.

Bob retired from Aurora PD in 2018, shifting his focus to his accounting practice and work with the Aurora Police Foundation. But retirement didn’t last long. In 2019, newly elected Sheriff Tyler Brown reached out and asked Bob to return—this time as a Bureau Chief. Having known Sheriff Brown’s family for many years, Bob couldn’t say no. Sheriff Brown wanted Bob’s experience, and Bob wanted to help.

So, in January 2019, Bob returned to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. Fast forward to 2026, and Chief Stef was finally ready to retire—for good. One very proud achievement is that he never had to discharge his weapon in the line of duty. He leaves law enforcement on a high note.

“It’s time,” Bob said. “I am very connected to my family, and I want to spend more time with them. I also love watching my son play high school and club baseball, supporting my other son achieve his goal of enlisting in the military, I want to play golf and I want to do some volunteering.”

When asked what he’ll miss most, Bob shared: “I’m really going to miss the family-oriented culture at the Sheriff’s Office. You won’t find a better group of people who work hard and love their job. Someone made me laugh every single day. Someone once said, 'You won’t miss the circus, but you’ll miss the clowns.' Believe me, I’ll miss the clowns!”

Thank you, Bob, for your dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and the community you served for nearly half a century. You will be deeply missed, and we wish you a happy, healthy, and well-earned retirement.

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