As Jefferson County heads toward a November general election for sheriff, one of the two candidates on the ballot is doing so without active law enforcement certifications -- a situation that raises unprecedented questions about what it would mean if he wins.
What Happened
On May 21, 2026, the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Police Policy Committee voted to recommend that Tyler Anderson be stripped of his law enforcement certifications. The action stems from the same investigation that led to Anderson's firing from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in 2025, after roughly a decade of service with the agency.
Termination documents from the sheriff's office alleged that Anderson was untruthful on multiple occasions. Anderson was also placed on the Brady List -- a disclosure list of officers whose credibility has been called into question -- in Jefferson and Crook Counties in July 2025.
Anderson pushed back on the process, telling the DPSST committee: "None of the witnesses, my background investigators or members of the public that we've asked to be interviewed were interviewed." The committee voted to move forward with the certification revocation recommendation regardless.
Anderson Is Still on the Ballot
Despite the loss of his DPSST certifications, Anderson remains a candidate for Jefferson County Sheriff in the November 2026 general election. He filed to run against the man who fired him -- incumbent Sheriff Jason Pollock, who is seeking re-election to a second term.
Oregon law does not prohibit a person from running for sheriff without active law enforcement certification. However, serving as a certified law enforcement officer -- a core function of the sheriff's role -- is a separate legal matter that would need to be resolved if Anderson were elected.
Pollock's Record and the Race Ahead
Sheriff Jason Pollock was first appointed in June 2022 after winning the primary election that spring, and was formally elected to the position in November 2022. He has served as the county's top law enforcement officer since then and is seeking a full second term.
The November 2026 race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched local contests in Jefferson County in years. Voters will need to weigh Anderson's claims of procedural unfairness against the documented findings of the DPSST investigation and his termination from the agency.
The Madras Bulletin will continue to cover this race as it develops ahead of November. Voters with questions about the candidates can view their submitted statements at jeffersoncountyor.gov.