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Windham County Regional Law Enforcement Governance Pilot Signed into Law

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — The Windham County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that S.255 has passed the Vermont Legislature and has been signed into law by Governor Phil Scott.

Following over three years of discussion and development, S.255 establishes a pilot framework for the Windham County Law Enforcement Governance Council, a regional governance model intended to help participating municipalities without police departments plan, fund, and deliver law enforcement and related public safety services. The law creates an opt-in structure for Windham County towns that choose to participate.

“This is an important step forward for Windham County,” said Sheriff Mark Anderson. “For decades, Vermont has struggled with the challenge of equitable access to law enforcement. Many communities have been working through the same challenge: how to provide reliable, professional, and affordable law enforcement services in a way that respects local control. S.255 gives Windham County towns a new tool to have that conversation and, if they choose, to work together to improve access to services using existing funding.”

Under this change in law, municipalities choose if they will participate. Non-participating municipalities will not be assessed costs related to the Council. The law does not upset existing services from the Sheriff, state police, municipalities, or mutual aid agreements. Instead, it gives towns a new way to engage in inter-municipal resource sharing that overcomes obstacles under current models.

“This law does not force a town to do anything,” Sheriff Anderson said. “It creates a pathway that is more efficient at delivering law enforcement services with existing funds. The real work is continuing the local conversations, identifying towns that wish to join, and establishing the governing body which we are beginning outreach on now. The governing body will be able to establish the levels of service and funding which we expect to be delivered to the voters of participating towns during Town Meeting of 2027. We anticipate participating towns will allocate the funding they currently appropriate to contract with my department to this program instead.”

The Windham County Sheriff’s Office thanks our legislators, municipal leaders, assistant judges, public safety partners, residents, and stakeholders who contributed to the discussion and development of this pilot model.