Press Release

Newfane, VT — The Windham County Sheriff’s Office invites the public to attend the Windham County Sheriff’s Regional Policing Initiative’s public meeting, which seeks to improve access to rural law enforcement through shared services across municipalities.

Sheriff Mark Anderson will present his proposal and invite discussion on the initiative. Sheriff Anderson intends to bring this initiative — developed in collaboration with towns, stakeholders, and the public — to the Vermont Legislature in January 2026. This is the fifth and final planned public meeting on the topic, which aims to improve access to law enforcement services in towns that do not have their own police department.

“Under current law, only towns and the State are charged with providing law enforcement services," Sheriff Anderson said. "Our experience is that towns and our constituents expect more. The existing system is generally piecemeal and patchwork, leaving people frustrated."

Sheriff Anderson will host this event to present the existing proposal on:

September 22, 2025 – 5:00 PM
Windham County Courthouse
7 Court Street
Newfane, VT 05345

This meeting will also be available online via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84024576405?pwd=qP8zYPcNGaAMVRbbWQtr6iWetiW0gm.1

Meeting ID: 840 2457 6405
Passcode: 390256

The event is open to the public and is intended to gather feedback about the future of policing in rural Vermont. A follow-up meeting will be hosted based on public feedback, with a proposal for future action.

The push for regionalization is not new. Numerous studies commissioned over several decades by the Legislature, the State, and independent researchers have consistently recommended regional law enforcement services as a necessary step forward for Vermont’s rural communities.

Media Contact:
Sheriff Mark Anderson
manderso@windhamcountyvt.gov
802-365-4942 x151

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