ABOUT US

Vermont sheriffs have a proud and enduring history of service to the people of Vermont. Sheriffs were established in the Vermont Constitution in 1781, and that same year Jonas Galusha was elected as the first Sheriff of Bennington County. From 1781 until 1947, the Sheriff’s Department served as the primary law enforcement agency for most towns within Bennington County until the creation of the Vermont State Police in 1947.

Between 1781 and 1986, the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department operated on a county-funded budget approved by the two County Assistant Judges. Limited funding during this period restricted the department’s ability to expand services and community outreach. A significant transformation began in 1986 when Sheriff Gary Forrest assumed leadership. Under his guidance, the department underwent a comprehensive restructuring with a renewed focus on community engagement and the acquisition of additional resources to better serve the residents of Bennington County.

Today, the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department is led by Sheriff James A. Gulley, Jr., MPA, who continues to uphold and advance the professional standards established by Sheriff Forrest. Guided by a forward-thinking strategic plan, the department leverages modern technology, state-of-the-art equipment, and ethical practices to ensure the highest level of service. 

Bennington County’s Historical Listing of Sheriffs:

  • Jonas Galusha - 1781-1787 (Shaftsbury)

  • David Robinson - 1787-1798 (Bennington)

  • William Cooley - 1798-1800 (Rupert)

  • David Robinson - 1800-1811 (Bennington)

  • Samuel Fay - 1811-1823 (Bennington)

  • Josiah Burton - 1823-1826 (Manchester)

  • Samuel Canfield - 1826-1836 (Arlington)

  • John Norton - 1836-1837 (Bennington)

  • Gurdin H. Smith - 1837-1839 (Manchester)

  • Raymond Fish - 1839-1840 (Bennington)

  • Gurdin H. Smith - 1840-1842 (Manchester)

  • John V.D.S. McEowen - 1842-1845 (Bennington)

  • Jasper Viall - 1845-1849 (Dorset)

  • James S. Merrill - 1849-1853 (Bennington)

  • Jasper Viall - 1853-1859 (Dorset)

  • John Robinson - 1882-1884 (Bennington)

  • James McCall - 1884-1888 (Rupert)

  • Andrew J. Pike - 1888-1890 (Readsboro)

  • John Robinson - 1890-1892 (Bennington)

  • Henry S. Wilson - 1892-1906 (Arlington)

  • Fredrick Godfrey - 1906-1919 (Bennington)

  • Perry B. Gardner - 1919-1922 (Bennington)

  • Patrick H. Thompson - 1922-1924 (Arlington)

  • Wilton A. Viall - 1924-1925 (Bennington)

  • Perry B. Gardner - 1925-1934 (Bennington)

  • William E. Bissell - 1934-1935 (Bennington)

  • Clyde Peck - 1935-1947 (Bennington)

  • John Maloney - 1947-1986 (Bennington)

  • Gary J. Forrest - 1986-2009 (Bennington)

  • Chad D. Schmidt - 2009-2023 (Bennington)

  • James Gulley, Jr. - 2023-Present (Bennington)