ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The newly elected sheriff of Washtenaw County is fighting a new bad guy: climate change.

Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, the first female sheriff of Washtenaw County, is focusing on protecting the environment in her law enforcement approach. The priorities she listed on her campaign page include “protecting our community from the negative environmental and human health impacts of pollution and climate change is paramount to achieving true public safety.”

What does that mean?

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Sheriff Dyer describes herself as a “consistent champion of progressive values” and proponent of social justice. In an interview with The Daily Wire, Sheriff Dyer said she plans to create an “Environmental Crimes Unit” during her first term. Its focus will be examining air pollution, water contamination, and hazardous waste management. She argued that everything is connected and that violent crime can be curbed because the  quality of the environment impacts people’s wellbeing.

In addition, she said pairing up deputies in one car can help reduce gas emissions from the department’s fleet.

Violent crime in Washtenaw County.

The 2021 Crime in Michigan Annual Report showed Washtenaw County ranked 10th when it came to crimes committed with 17,156. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office data information dashboard shows 4,254 verified crimes in 2024.

In addition in 2024, Washtenaw County recorded 572 incidents of violent crime, 753 cases of domestic violence, and 98 firearms offenses.

Climate change in the news.

The timing of Dyer’s new tenure comes against the backdrop of the devastating wildfires in California. Both Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have blamed “climate change.” However, many experts believe poor forest management and Newsom’s refusal to fill water reservoirs fueled those fires.