Sheriff Alyshia Dyer joined the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) earlier this year. In this interview Sheriff Dyer reflects on how her experiences have shaped her approach to law enforcement, how she works to build trust with immigrant communities, and what she hopes to accomplish as a member of the task force.

The sheriff’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.

As the youngest and first woman to serve as sheriff of Washtenaw County, how does your perspective open the door for new approaches and leadership in your role as sheriff?

I’m focused on changing how we respond to public safety by elevating mental health expertise across our operations, bringing compassion to law enforcement leadership, and centering both employees and the community when it comes to wellbeing. I am responsible for six divisions including road patrol, metro dispatch and emergency services, community corrections, engagement, and reentry. In doing this work, my focus is to embrace creativity and find new solutions to complex public safety challenges. We have both law enforcement and non-law enforcement leadership at our agency, including people who have been directly impacted by the legal system. That mix provides innovation and new ways to improve public safety while reducing the harm the system can cause.

I’m pushing to build out alternative, unarmed crisis responders outside the Sheriff’s Office, in addition to the traditional policing we’ve always done and our co-response mental health teams. This approach helps us de-escalate situations, reduces the burden on first responders, and prevents unnecessary police involvement. It allows us to address root causes rather than just the incident at hand.

I also believe the job starts with taking care of the people who serve our community. Deputy wellbeing—recognizing and treating PTSD and stress—is essential if we want to keep our community safe and handle crises effectively. By prioritizing mental health and resilience within the force, we create responders who are calmer, better prepared, and more capable of delivering humane, community-centered service. That shift is a cornerstone of the systemic change I’m pursuing: moving from reactive policing to proactive, prevention-focused leadership.

I’m committed to transparency, accountability, and real, system-wide reform. True systemic change means looking at the entire continuum of care and investing upstream in prevention, mentorship for youth, and community-based resources so that fewer people end up in crisis or caught in the justice system in the first place. My leadership is about listening to the community, partnering across the county, and aligning our policies with people’s needs.

You bring a unique background to your current role in law enforcement with experience as a deputy and a social worker. How does that background shape your philosophy on public safety and community trust?

My background as both a deputy and a social worker shapes my philosophy in a fundamental way as I believe safety isn’t just about enforcement, it’s about meeting people where they are and addressing root causes. I’ve seen crises from both sides—on patrol as an officer, where de-escalation and empathy can prevent harm, and in social work, where connecting people to real supports changes lives. That dual lens pushes me to build systems that prioritize de-escalation, mental health expertise, and services that treat people as whole individuals rather than cases to be solved. I also bring perspective from my lived experience growing up in poverty, being impacted by violence and the legal system as a child and being a young woman in a male-dominated profession.

Community trust grows when leadership is transparent, accountable, authentic, and compassionate. My background teaches me the value of listening to residents, partners, and people with lived experience of the system. I’m committed to open communication, measurable accountability, and policies that reflect the needs and voices of Washtenaw County.

How does your background in social work impact your approach to working with immigrant communities, in particular those who may be wary of law enforcement?

My social work and community-driven background guides how I serve immigrant communities, especially those who may be wary of law enforcement, by emphasizing humanity, listening, and sticking to my values even under pressure. I’ve learned to acknowledge fears and focus on root needs that influence how people interact with public safety, which helps keep everyone safer.

We’ve built ties with immigrant-focused organizations and rights groups to create spaces for accountability and shared understanding. That perspective shapes my stance that safety is not just about enforcement, but about connection, support, and opportunity. When people feel seen and heard, they’re more likely to engage constructively with us rather than fear us. It isn’t easy right now, especially with the rise in hateful language targeted at immigrants, but we work hard to show locally that we care, will stay true to our mission and values, and protect everyone in our community.

What role does advocacy and community organizing play in your office’s efforts to serve the Washtenaw County community?

Before I became sheriff, I served as a law enforcement officer in the road patrol and marine divisions. After that, I pursued graduate degrees in public policy and social work. During that time, I worked in the health justice field as a community organizer, which taught me leadership lessons I carry with me today involving understanding community power, understanding your own power, and using organizing to create meaningful change that keeps community values front and center.

A sheriff is uniquely responsible not only as the chief law enforcement officer of the county but also as a duly elected leader to make sure community values are prioritized in public safety. Public safety isn’t only about responding to calls; it’s also about addressing the concerns that shape safety more broadly. Working with organizers and advocates has been one of our office’s greatest strengths, keeping me accountable and grounded in our shared mission even when other pressures try to pull us off course.

How do you approach the balance between local public safety priorities and federal immigration enforcement? Why is that balance important, and how can law enforcement leaders rethink how their agencies show up for immigrant communities?

Balancing local public safety with federal immigration enforcement isn’t about choosing one over the other, it’s about defining our role as local public servants. We safeguard everyone in our community, and we are not mandated to enforce federal immigration law.

In Washtenaw County, we’ve drawn that clear line. That separation respects residents’ dignity and trust while allowing us to focus on what we can control: protecting safety, reducing harm, and connecting people to needed services. This balance matters because when communities fear engaging with law enforcement, they’re less likely to report crime, cooperate with investigations, or seek help. That undermines public safety for everyone.

The most important thing law enforcement leaders can do right now is show up with transparency and compassion, so trust is built locally. Without trust, everything can feel impossible when it comes to caring for our immigrant communities.

Why did you decide to join the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF), and what aspect of the Task Force’s work are you most looking forward to being a part of?

I joined the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force because I believe public safety and immigrant rights are deeply connected. It’s also critically important to stay informed in a landscape that is complex and rapidly changing. In Washtenaw County, I’ve seen how fear and misunderstanding can prevent people from seeking help, reporting crime, or accessing critical services. The LEITF provides a network to ensure we have the most up-to-date information and the tools needed to navigate challenges in this arena. The Task Force also offers a platform to push for common-sense immigration reform that strengthens safety for everyone while preserving dignity and fairness for immigrant communities. It gives us both a national lens and practical tools to translate philosophy into policy and practice at the local and national level.