With Jefferson County voters preparing to return their ballots, the race for county sheriff has taken another dramatic turn: the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) has scheduled a review of challenger Tyler Anderson's law enforcement certifications for May 21 — the day after election activity peaks.
The review, confirmed by documents posted to the Oregon.gov website, stems from allegations of misconduct and dishonesty tied to the March 2025 internal investigation that ultimately led to Anderson's termination from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office after a decade of service.
What the Records Show
According to termination documents obtained through a public records request by OPB, Anderson was fired after an internal investigation found he had violated office policies on multiple fronts, including allegations that he was "untruthful" on multiple occasions, had an improper relationship with a confidential informant, omitted a previous termination from an Idaho police department on his employment application, and failed to disclose alleged past drug use in college.
Anderson disputes most of the allegations. In interviews, he acknowledged experimenting with cocaine, marijuana, and mushrooms during one month in college but denied ever distributing drugs.
"When I was in college, I tried cocaine, marijuana, and mushrooms all pretty much in the same month when I first got into college," Anderson said. "I've made mistakes, but I've changed a lot, and nothing I'm being accused of has anything to do with me in the line of duty."
Brady List Designation
Following his termination, both the Jefferson County and Crook County district attorneys' offices added Anderson to their Brady lists — a designation meaning prosecutors will not call on him to testify as a law enforcement witness in criminal cases. The Brady listing took effect July 28, 2025.
If DPSST moves to revoke Anderson's police certification, he would be legally barred from serving as a law enforcement officer in Oregon — a requirement to hold the office of sheriff.
Anderson's Response
Anderson has spent the past year contesting his firing, alleging that Sheriff Jason Pollock targeted him because he did not support Pollock's 2022 campaign for office.
"I want to share with the community the stuff I'm going to do to help them," Anderson said. "And by them seeing my past and seeing what I've been through, I hope it just opens their eyes to things that are happening."
In response, Pollock stated via email: "I do not agree with the characterization that this matter was politically or personally motivated," citing the findings of the third-party investigator, independent DA reviews, and the state probe as evidence the process was thorough and impartial.
A Pattern in Oregon
Oregon observers have noted that a similar DPSST proceeding in neighboring Deschutes County led to the resignation of an elected sheriff in 2024, raising the stakes of the May 21 hearing well beyond Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County sheriff's race will be decided in the November general election. Both Anderson and Pollock were the only two candidates to file, so no primary elimination occurs — but the DPSST hearing next week is expected to draw significant attention as voters weigh their choices.