MEDIA RELEASE - Campaign Announcement

25-Year Eagle County Resident Announces Sheriff Candidacy

• “I am deeply committed to the safety and well-being of everyone who lives in, works in, and visits Eagle County.”

GYPSUM, Colo. – Jan. 12, 2026 – Rebecca Anderson is proud to announce her candidacy for Eagle County Sheriff in the November 2026 election.

“Eagle County has been my home for more than 25 years, and I have spent the past 20 years serving our community in law enforcement,” says Anderson. “As Sheriff, I will prioritize building strong, trusting relationships between law enforcement and the communities we serve. I believe in proactive, community-focused policing, and I will encourage our deputies to engage directly with residents and visitors through community patrols and open conversations to ensure their needs are being met. Victims and witnesses deserve to feel safe and supported when they come forward, confident that they will be heard with respect and compassion.”

Anderson, 49, is a Gypsum resident and currently serves as a Patrol Sergeant with the Vail Police Department.  She is the Crisis Negotiations Team Leader, and a passionate K-9 Handler. This is a partisan election and Anderson is a registered Democrat.

Anderson believes strongly in collaboration and its centrality to effective public safety.  This belief serves as the foundation of her goal to become Sheriff.

“I will strengthen partnerships with our law enforcement agencies in Avon, Basalt, Eagle, and Vail, as well as throughout unincorporated Eagle County and with our fire departments and EMS services,” she says. “Our office will work closely with Eagle County Government, local town governments, our school district, hospitals, CDOT, and other key partners to ensure a coordinated approach to safety across the county.”

Perhaps equally important, Anderson has her focus on internal operations, saying, “I am committed to fostering a supportive and professional work environment within the Sheriff’s Office. Our deputies should feel empowered to share ideas, communicate openly, and work collaboratively with one another and with leadership.”

Anderson previously served as a Master Patrol Deputy with the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office from September 2005-April 2022. She also served on the Crisis Negotiations Team as a Team Leader and a K-9 Handler. Between 2008-2012, she served as a Field Training Officer.

Anderson’s educational background began with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management, from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, followed by certification from the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy, Colorado Mountain College, Glenwood Springs, Colo.

“Between 2002 and 2005, I was a 911 call taker for police, fire and EMS with the Vail Public Safety Communications Center,” explains Anderson. “That role centered me to commit to public safety service for life.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is participating in community events, such as National Night Out, Shop with a Cop, and Coffee with a Cop,” she excitedly explains. “These events allow us to chat with community members in a casual setting. This is so important, as we are able to meet our neighbors and often learn information about concerns in the community we were not aware of. Having an opportunity to attend these events with my two K-9s, Echo and Crosby, and being able to show off their skills, has been a highlight of my career.

“Eagle County hosts so many great events, from our small-town festivals like Gypsum Daze, to world-wide events on our ski slopes. These events take a cooperative effort from all of our public safety agencies. I always enjoy being a part of these events to see first-hand how our agencies are able to work together, presenting a welcoming face to those attending.”

In those brief quiet moments, Anderson embraces Eagle County’s outdoors hiking and snowshoeing with her dogs, family and friends. She is also an avid visitor to our country’s National Parks.

“By supporting our law enforcement teams throughout Eagle County, we can better serve the people of Eagle County,” Anderson says. “I would be honored to earn your trust and your support.”