Meet Alyshia
"I'm running for Sheriff because I know firsthand the importance of safe communities in Washtenaw County. As a former road patrol deputy, I'm committed to improving public safety while protecting our community and public servants."
— ALYSHIA DYER
Growing up in Ypsilanti, Alyshia Dyer's childhood and background were marked by adversity and encounters with the criminal justice system. She experienced periods of homelessness as a juvenile runaway which deeply influenced her perspective on the importance of community support and social justice. Her personal encounters with law enforcement exposed her to both respectful and harmful treatment by officers, leaving a lasting impact.
Motivated to serve the community that raised her, Alyshia completed her training at the police academy in 2011, and served as a road patrol deputy and marine deputy at the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office for nearly a decade. As a deputy, Alyshia responded to domestic violence calls, homicides, and home invasions.
She soon realized that true community safety requires leaders in police departments who genuinely care. Despite fighting to do the right thing, she was constantly pressured to meet traffic stop and ticket quotas. She witnessed firsthand how mismanagement put workers’ lives at risk and harmed children. These experiences led her to leave the Sheriff’s Office road patrol division and pursue higher education.
After completing her bachelor's degree at Eastern Michigan University, Alyshia earned advanced degrees from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. She then gained administrative experience at the City of Detroit's Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department. As an organizer, she co-founded YPSI N.I.C.E. and worked with the community to enhance transparency in local government. Alyshia currently is a member of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership and serves her community as a therapist and social worker.
Now, with her coalition of grassroots supporters, she is running for Sheriff to create an office that truly respects and protects our whole community.