Elect Mark Anderson Sheriff

Modernizing access to department services

• Established an electronic management system for all civil process served by our department
• Established an online registration system to schedule appointments for our county fingerprint center
• Established an online system to report conduct of employees
• Worked with partner organizations to electronically file criminal cases, reducing paper waste

Regional Animal Control Officer Program

Having heard of several communities struggles, we developed a Regional Animal Control Officer program in which a trained civilian ACO has been able to support numerous towns through animal issues. There are currently seven member towns, with desire by several other towns to engage the services of this program. It is the desire to expand the offerings of this program to all towns in Windham County.

Windham County Sheriff's Advisory

The Windham County Sheriff's Advisory was created to bring community perspectives to the forefront as they intersect with the services provided by the Sheriff's Office. The Advisory is made up of ten community members who help me navigate complex issues as seen from the lens of the community. You can learn more about the advisory on the department's website.

Deployed first all-electric law enforcement vehicle in Vermont

Following a shortage in vehicle supply in 2020, I took advantage of the opportunity to pilot an all-electric vehicle in Vermont law enforcement. Through this initiative, we've learned many lessons of how Vermont law enforcement can benefit from all-electric vehicles including operations, lower overall costs, and new ways to look at problems.

You can learn more about the department's efforts here.

Fair and Impartial Policing

In my past positions, I have worked pro-actively to develop relationships spanning cultural divides to establish an example of proper, fair, professional policing. Policing is inherently a people profession which requires a belief that everyone will get a "fair shake." A common mantra that I follow is, "You never know what someone is going through." This is true to all walks of life, whether death in a family, prior instances of unfair treatment, addiction, mental health, or simply harsh times.

Developing community trust was one of the key components of my work as a school resource officer. Through these relationships, we were able to provide services to at-risk and marginalized families too embarrassed or excluded by "the system" to offer help and need in a community care-taking role. We were able to bring justice and safety to children of abuse and neglect. Community care-taking is one of the most effective mechanisms of community policing.

Opioid Crisis

The opioid epidemic is a complex and interconnected issue that weaves through the criminal justice, medical, mental health, and social fabrics of our community. As the Sheriff, I have developed organizational relationships with stakeholders to continue the efforts already underway. I've worked to educate the community to help reduce the stigma surrounding treatment.

I implemented a system that brings real-time reporting of overdoses to police, fire and EMS, so that resources could be directed to the most affected areas. Under my leadership, the Sheriff's Office continues to support the National Drug Take Back Initiative to reduce crimes motivated by addiction and reduce unwanted or unneeded medications in homes. I've advocated for greater availability of Narcan/reversal agents to schools, first responders, and community centers.

There is a chicken/egg problem regarding crime as it pertains to the substance use epidemic which warrants Legislative guidance. We cannot arrest our way out of the the problem, but the resulting effects of addiction weigh heavily on our society that introduce violence, greed, and harm to our community.

Gaps in rural police coverage and dispatching

The Sheriff's Office is best poised to deliver regionalized policing and emergency dispatching services in Windham County. The expenses of operating a police department or emergency communications center often exceeds the means of the small towns and villages of Windham County. The administrative expenses duplicated across each agency in the county creates a needless expenditure of resources where proper planning could bring better, more efficient levels of services.

The Sheriff's Office currently maintains a regional dispatch center that could grow to satisfy local needs and create jobs in Windham County. I believe when a person has an emergency, whether it require emergency medicine, fire, or law enforcement, a caller shouldn't be ping-ponged between numerous dispatch centers.

Safe educational and professional environments

Law enforcement has seen a vast shift in our role in school and organizational safety. This has created the ability to have deputies trained not only as instructors in safety and resiliency protocols sought by educational institutions, but also engage in safety analysis of facilities to make schools safe, while ensuring it remains a school and community center. We've engaged with non-profit organizations, faith groups, and schools to develop plans, share information, network, and create a general presence that incorporates a core principal of the Sheriff's Office: the community are the police, and the police are the community.

Boards & Volunteer Work

• Vermont Sheriffs' Association
• I currently serve as the President representing the interests of the Vermont sheriffs. This offers the opportunity to improve access and needs at the county and state levels.
• President, April 2021 - Present
• Second Vice President, July 2019 - April 2021
• Vermont Criminal Justice Council
• I served a one year term as Co-Vice Chair on the Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC). The VCJC oversees law enforcement certifications, training, and accountability for all agencies in the State of Vermont.
• Co-Vice Chair, March 2021 - July 2022
• Vermont Sheriffs' Appointee, July 2019 - Present
• Valcour Governance Board
• I currently serve as Chair on the Valcour Governance Board (VGB). The VGB oversees the operation of the statewide Valcour Computer Aided Dispatch/Records Management System.
• Chair, July 2021 - Present
• Vice-Chair, June 2020 - July 2021
• Windham County Safe Place Child Advocacy Center
• I currently serve as Treasurer of the Windham County Safe Place Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC supports victims of child sex crimes and abuse providing trauma-informed interviews.
• Treasurer, July 2021 - Present
• Board member, June 2020 - Present
• INSPIRE School for Autism
• I currently serve as Treasurer of the INSPIRE School for Autism. INSPIRE is a private school that works to empower children with autism in pursuing academic and entrepreneurial skills.
• Treasurer, July 2021 - Present
• Chair, September 2019 - April 2021
• Board member, October 2017 - Present
• West River Valley Thrives
• I current serve as a board member for the West River Valley Thrives, an organization that works to build community, prevent substance abuse in young people, and foster opportunity in the West River Valley.
• Board member, September 2020 - Present

Sheriff of Windham County

Appointed by Republican Governor Phil Scott, I took lead of rural agency responsible for prisoner transports, service of civil process, rural policing, and more.

Captain & Chief Deputy

Responsible for all day-to-day operations of the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, including the planning, directing and managing of all operational activities conducted by the agency. This includes contract development, financial management and planning, recruiting, retention, training and the general management of the agency.

School Resource Officer

I was assigned to the Brattleboro Union High School as the School Resource Officer (SRO) with the purpose of developing positive interpersonal relationships with students and staff; aiding with cases having to do with truancy, neglect, and/or abuse of children; supporting the safety and administrative staff of the school regarding delinquent acts and infrastructure/population safety. Our program focused broke down numerous silos to achieve a long-term goal: enable students to access their education. Research shows the higher education a person has, the less likely they are to commit a crime.

I assisted with the school's options based ALICE resiliency training. I integrated into classroom lessons to give a legal and life perspectives regarding a variety of educational topics. I helped at-risk students access to social services and victim services. I worked with the State's Attorney, the school's Restorative Justice Program, E-Reparative Program, and Youth Services' Diversion program to ensure reasonable solutions to juvenile misconduct was prioritized over traditional criminal justice approaches.

Lieutenant - Executive Officer

I served as the Executive Officer, responsible for financial functions including contracting, procurement, billing and payroll processes. I maintained responsibilities regarding patrol, transport and dispatching operations.

Lieutenant - Division Chief

I served as the Division Chief of the Vernon Division, which was established following the closure of the Vernon (VT) Police Department in 2014. I was responsible for establishing a 24-hour primary police service to the Town of Vernon, which included supervision of staff, communicating with the Town government, providing police services and creating the infrastructure necessary for regular operations.

Corporal - Patrol Supervisor

Served as a patrol supervisor responsible for crime prevention and law enforcement, staffing, scheduling and supervision of deputies. I performed functions commensurate with the roles of a deputy sheriff, including the transportation of criminal offenders, in-custody juveniles and mental health patients for the State of Vermont. I was responsible for grant management and supervision for all grants, including state and federal grants. I served as the custodian of evidence for all evidence in relation to criminal investigations conducted by the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, including evidence from homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, frauds and drug investigations.

Deputy / Investigator

I was assigned as an investigator to the Southeastern Unit for Special Investigations. I investigated allegations of sexual assaults and severe child abuse, leading to the arrest, prosecution and adjudication of offenders. I assisted the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office with case reviews and prepared various aspects of cases for trials and hearings. I primarily investigated sexual assault cases, child-victim homicides and physical assault cases.

Deputy Sheriff

I was responsible for general patrol, crime prevention and law enforcement. I provided transportation of criminal offenders, in-custody juveniles, and mental health patients for the State of Vermont. I instructed a high school junior/senior level law enforcement class. I was selected as member of the Southern Vermont DUI Task Force based on my aggressive DUI investigatory abilities.

Aircraft Armament Systems Technician

I serve as a load crew chief, supervising and working on and around explosives, to include arming and de-arming weapons systems. I performed maintenance on electronic and mechanical systems responsible for offensive and defensive weapons systems of the A-10 and F-15 aircraft, including release and suspension equipment. I've completed the Craftsman supervisory career field training through the Air Education University.

I serve as a flight chief, supervising airmen in maintaining readiness and mission effectiveness.