WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. — Four years after publicly opposing the expansion of automatic license plate readers in the Ypsilanti area, Alyshia Dyer now leads the law enforcement agency that once supported the technology.
Dyer, a former Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputy, social worker and community activist, became sheriff in January 2025 after winning a closely contested Democratic primary in August 2024. Official Washtenaw County election records show Dyer received 26,841 votes to Derrick Jackson’s 26,443, a margin of 398 votes. She subsequently won the November general election without an opposing candidate on the ballot.
Now approximately a year and a half into her administration, Dyer’s attempt to reshape policing in Washtenaw County has produced significant policy changes while also placing her at the center of budget disputes, personnel controversies, litigation, outside investigations and scrutiny following a fatal deputy-involved shooting.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office currently identifies Dyer as the county sheriff and lists her administration’s senior command staff on its official website.
From Deputy to Activist and Back to Law Enforcement Leadership
Dyer has described an unstable childhood that included housing insecurity and multiple encounters with law enforcement. She has said those experiences contributed to her decision to enter policing with the belief that she could help change the system from within.
She attended Washtenaw Community College and entered law enforcement as a young adult, eventually serving nearly seven years as a road patrol deputy with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
Dyer later pursued graduate education in social work and public policy at the University of Michigan while continuing limited work as a marine deputy and working as a therapist.
Outside law enforcement, she became increasingly involved in political and community organizing, including opposition to expanded automatic license plate-reader surveillance in the Ypsilanti area.
That background became central to her 2024 campaign for sheriff.
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An Outsider Campaign Defeats the Establishment Favorite
Longtime Sheriff Jerry Clayton announced that he would not seek another term, creating the first open race for the office in years.
Clayton supported Derrick Jackson, a longtime sheriff’s office official who entered the race with extensive endorsements from county political leaders.
Dyer instead positioned herself as an alternative to what she characterized as institutional succession politics.
Her campaign emphasized reducing unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system, addressing racial disparities, expanding mental-health and social-service interventions and reconsidering traditional enforcement practices.
The approach proved successful.
Official election records show Dyer won 43.6% of the August 6, 2024 Democratic primary vote. Jackson received 42.9%, while Ken Magee received 13.5%.
Budget and Staffing Battles Emerge
Once in office, Dyer quickly encountered financial and staffing challenges.
According to the county’s own reporting, the sheriff’s administration faced significant budget shortfalls associated with rising food, medical and inflation-related expenses. Washtenaw County has since stated that Dyer’s administration balanced the budget.
The dispute nevertheless produced significant political friction between Dyer and members of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
County commissioners questioned staffing levels, jail operations and the administration’s response to its financial problems.
The relationship deteriorated further when county officials moved to assume greater control over human-resources functions associated with the sheriff’s office after concerns were raised about personnel management.
Dyer denied that her administration had engaged in systemic personnel mismanagement and ultimately filed a lawsuit challenging the county’s actions.
The dispute was later resolved through a settlement establishing a division of human-resources responsibilities.
Fatal Deputy Shooting Remains Under Review
One of the most consequential incidents during Dyer’s tenure occurred in January 2026 following a vehicle pursuit in Ypsilanti.
Washtenaw County deputies fired multiple rounds into an overturned van, killing 34-year-old Navy veteran John Andrew Jenuwine.
According to reporting provided to CopTalkLIVE, Jenuwine was unarmed. His family subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against the county and eight deputies, alleging, among other claims, that deputies improperly used force and failed to provide timely medical assistance after the shooting.
Those allegations are claims contained in civil litigation and have not been established as fact through a final court judgment.
Dyer’s office turned the shooting investigation over to the Michigan State Police and released video from the incident. The case was later forwarded for review by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, according to reporting cited in the source material provided to CopTalkLIVE.
Four deputies were reported to have been placed on leave following the shooting.
As of publication, CopTalkLIVE has not identified a publicly announced final charging decision from the Michigan Attorney General concerning the Jenuwine shooting.
SWAT Standoff Draws Additional Scrutiny
The fatal shooting occurred shortly after another major law-enforcement incident in Ypsilanti.
Officers from multiple agencies responded to a home where authorities encountered a 53-year-old man reportedly armed with a sword and experiencing a mental-health crisis.
The confrontation extended for approximately 30 hours and involved the use of tear gas, water and tactical measures that reportedly caused substantial damage to portions of the home.
Some community members criticized the response as inconsistent with Dyer’s emphasis on using mental-health professionals and de-escalation when possible.
Dyer countered that the incident was outside her agency’s primary jurisdiction and that she was not the tactical commander overseeing the operation.
She also defended the officers’ ultimate handling of the incident, saying mental-health professionals and crisis negotiators were initially used and that the standoff concluded without anyone being killed.
Traffic Stops Dramatically Reduced
While controversies have drawn public attention, Dyer has implemented several significant elements of the reform agenda on which she campaigned.
Among the most visible is a reduction in traffic enforcement for minor equipment and non-safety violations.
Washtenaw County’s official annual-report materials identify policy and operational changes implemented under Dyer’s administration.
According to information released by the sheriff’s office and provided for this article, deputies conducted approximately 11,000 fewer traffic stops in 2025 than during the previous year.
The policy restricts enforcement stops based solely on certain minor violations, including some equipment issues that do not present an immediate safety concern.
Dyer has argued that reducing such encounters decreases unnecessary contact with the criminal justice system and prevents minor violations from creating escalating financial consequences for lower-income residents.
Jail Introduces In-Person Contact Visits
Dyer’s administration has also expanded in-person visitation at the Washtenaw County Jail.
The county currently maintains a dedicated contact-visitation program for incarcerated individuals.
According to information provided for this article, the change restored opportunities for incarcerated people to have direct visits with loved ones after more than a decade in which visitation was primarily conducted through video or physical separation.
Dyer has said maintaining family connections can support rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.
Her administration has also promoted educational programming for people incarcerated at the jail, including opportunities to obtain high-school diplomas and vocational credentials.
Dyer and County Targeted in Federal Immigration Lawsuit
Immigration enforcement has created another major legal fight for the sheriff.
Dyer has declined to honor voluntary requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold individuals beyond the period they would otherwise be released solely to facilitate federal immigration detention.
Washtenaw County separately adopted restrictions on federal immigration enforcement activity on county property without appropriate judicial authorization.
On April 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Washtenaw County, the Board of Commissioners, Dyer, the sheriff’s office, Prosecuting Attorney Eli Savit and the prosecutor’s office.
The Justice Department alleges the county’s policies unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement. Those assertions are allegations made by the federal government in pending litigation, not judicial findings.
Dyer and county officials have opposed the federal government’s position and sought dismissal of the case.
Marijuana Discovery in County SUV Prompts Investigation
Dyer faced additional scrutiny after an employee reportedly discovered what was initially described as a burned marijuana cigarette in her county-issued SUV.
County officials hired outside attorneys to investigate.
Dyer denied wrongdoing and strongly criticized the investigation. She later said the item ultimately obtained by her staff was an empty cardboard wrapper rather than marijuana.
The outside investigation reportedly did not determine who was responsible for the item or establish wrongdoing by Dyer.
Because the investigation did not produce a conclusive finding tying Dyer to marijuana use or possession, any suggestion that she personally possessed or used marijuana in the county vehicle would go beyond the available evidence.
Former Romantic Partner’s Appointment Becomes Issue in Lawsuits
Dyer has also defended her appointment of Jeremiah Richardson to a human-resources leadership position within the sheriff’s office.
Richardson previously disclosed that he and Dyer had been romantically involved years earlier.
Dyer has maintained that Richardson was qualified for the position and that conflict-of-interest safeguards were established.
The appointment became part of broader scrutiny after former sheriff’s office human-resources employees filed lawsuits alleging retaliation after raising concerns about employment practices and job applicants.
Richardson has denied allegations of retaliation, and Dyer has rejected claims that her administration improperly relaxed hiring standards.
The allegations remain disputed and should not be treated as established findings unless resolved through court proceedings, settlement admissions or other official determinations.
Separate Personnel Investigation Involves Former Sergeant
County officials have also retained outside attorneys to examine allegations involving former sheriff’s office Sgt. Jeremy Yono.
According to the information provided for this article, Yono resigned while facing possible termination over alleged policy violations associated with a sexual relationship with a subordinate while on duty.
The sheriff’s office referred the matter to Michigan State Police for criminal investigation.
Local prosecutors ultimately did not authorize criminal sexual-conduct charges.
The absence of criminal charges does not independently resolve any separate administrative, employment or civil issues associated with the allegations.
Staffing Remains an Issue
Personnel shortages continue to affect the sheriff’s office, particularly corrections operations.
According to county data cited in the reporting provided to CopTalkLIVE, the department lost 44 full-time employees during 2025 while hiring 55.
Dyer has said staffing conditions at the jail have improved since she took office but remain difficult, with deputies and corrections personnel sometimes working extended shifts.
Nationally, recruitment and retention have also presented challenges for law-enforcement and emergency-service agencies.
911 Proposal Encounters Political Resistance
Dyer is also seeking changes to Washtenaw County’s emergency communications system.
In July 2026, she presented county commissioners with a proposal addressing future 911 dispatch operations. The sheriff’s official county webpage confirms that Dyer presented her vision for the future of 911 dispatch during a July 1 Board of Commissioners working session.
The proposal includes additional funding and placing social workers within the dispatch operation.
The plan would require additional revenue through a surcharge associated with telephone service.
In early August, the proposal did not receive sufficient immediate board support to move forward to voters, leaving the timing of any future ballot proposal uncertain.
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Current Status
As of August 19, 2026, Dyer remains Washtenaw County sheriff.
Several major matters surrounding her administration remain unresolved or ongoing:
- The federal government’s lawsuit challenging Washtenaw County immigration policies remains a significant legal dispute. The Justice Department formally filed the action in April 2026.
- CopTalkLIVE has not located a publicly announced final charging decision from the Michigan Attorney General concerning the fatal shooting of John Andrew Jenuwine.
- Civil litigation filed by former sheriff’s office employees contains disputed allegations involving personnel practices and retaliation.
- Outside review of allegations involving former Sgt. Jeremy Yono has continued separately from the criminal investigation in which prosecutors declined to authorize criminal sexual-conduct charges.
- Dyer’s proposal for additional 911 funding has not yet advanced to voters.
At the same time, Dyer’s administration continues implementing changes involving traffic enforcement, jail visitation, reentry programming, mental-health services and other operations.
The central question surrounding her tenure remains whether an official elected in part as a critic of traditional policing institutions can substantially change those institutions while simultaneously assuming responsibility for their operations, personnel and use of force.
For Dyer, that process remains ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alyshia Dyer?
Alyshia Dyer is the elected sheriff of Washtenaw County, Michigan. She previously worked as a sheriff’s deputy, pursued graduate education in social work and public policy and participated in community activism before running for sheriff.
When was Alyshia Dyer elected sheriff?
Dyer won the Democratic primary on August 6, 2024, by 398 votes over Derrick Jackson. Official county results show Dyer received 26,841 votes and Jackson received 26,443. She later won the November 2024 general election without an opposing candidate on the ballot.
Is the federal government suing Sheriff Alyshia Dyer?
Yes. The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit in April 2026 against Washtenaw County, Dyer and other county officials over local policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The federal government’s claims remain allegations unless and until established through court proceedings.
Was Alyshia Dyer accused of possessing marijuana in her county vehicle?
An item initially characterized as a burned marijuana cigarette was reportedly discovered in Dyer’s county-issued SUV, prompting an outside investigation. Dyer denied wrongdoing and later said the item obtained by her staff was an empty wrapper. The investigation reportedly did not conclusively establish that Dyer possessed or used marijuana.
What happened in the John Andrew Jenuwine shooting?
Washtenaw County deputies fatally shot 34-year-old John Andrew Jenuwine following a January 2026 vehicle pursuit that ended with his van overturned. His family has filed a lawsuit alleging excessive force and failure to promptly render aid. Those allegations remain disputed civil claims. The shooting was referred for outside investigation and legal review.
What policing changes has Dyer implemented?
Her administration has pursued reduced traffic stops for certain minor violations, expanded jail visitation and education programs, changes to personnel and recruitment practices, increased emphasis on social services and mental-health intervention, and limitations on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
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