Bennington County Sheriff's Department - Press Release

January 12, 2024

Bennington County Sheriff's Department - Citizen Advisory Board:

One of my campaign promises was to establish a Citizens Advisory Board to work with the Bennington County Sheriff's Department. The Advisory Board will consist of volunteers from the Bennington County community.

The members of the Board will be appointed for terms of four years and will act as liaisons between their community and the sheriff's department. The members of the Board shall be appointed to provide comments and advice on a project or issue concerning the sheriff's department.

Members of the Board may be asked to conduct research, generate new ideas or solutions, or provide informed recommendations. Members of the Board shall provide an avenue to identify problems and issues from the community to the sheriff's department and from the sheriff's department to the community. Members of the Board will advocate quality in law enforcement by promoting education and training of all sheriffs department personnel and volunteers. Members of the Board will listen to the needs of their community and the sheriff's department to provide advice and guidance to serve the greatest mutual benefit to all. Please know that the Board is not a Board of Directors nor a Board of Commissioners. Our Advisory Board will not be responsible for drafting department policy, nor will the Board be responsible for resolving personnel complaints.

There will be an application process for those interested in serving on the Board. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please get in touch with the Bennington County Sheriff's Department at 802-442-4900 for further details.

Sheriff's Senior Call Check and Notification Program (SSCCAN):

The Bennington County Sheriff's Department will also initiate a pilot program called the Sheriff's Senior Call Check and Notification Program (SSCCAN). The program will be restricted to fifty individuals over sixty-five who reside in a town and are currently contracted with the sheriff's department to provide law enforcement services.

SSCCAN will provide a call Monday through Friday during the same one-hour period to a qualified participant in the program.

The service will not be available on weekends or state holidays.

If a participant fails to answer the telephone call, the Dispatch will contact a primary contact person provided by the participant. If the primary contact cannot be reached, the Dispatcher will attempt to contact an alternate.

Three attempts will be made to contact the participant, their primary or alternate contact. A Deputy Sheriff will be dispatched to the participant's residence to conduct a welfare check if contact cannot be established.

Vacation House Watch Program:

The Bennington County Sheriff's Department will also establish the Vacation House Watch Program. The Vacation House Watch Program will only be available to residents of Towns that contract law enforcement services from the sheriff's department. Under the Vacation House Watch Program, our deputies will periodically check the perimeter of your home to ensure that everything is safe and secure.

The Vacation House Watch Program and the Sheriff's Senior Call Check and Notification Program require an application.

Please get in touch with your Bennington County Sheriff's Department at 802-442-4900 for additional information.

Thank You, and stay healthy and safe!
Sheriff James A. Gulley, Jr., MPA
Bennington County Sheriffs Department
811 US RT 7
Bennington, VT. 05201
(p) 802-442-4900

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Sheriff James A. Gulley, Jr., MPA