After a year of protests against police violence towards the black community, Albany County has appointed its first black sheriff.  Aaron Appelhans, formerly a patrol sergeant at the University of Wyoming Police Department, took the position in January.  Appelhans, who grew up in Denver, is familiar with both sides of the Black Lives Matter movement, and he hopes to bridge the gap between progressives and conservatives. “My approach to law enforcement is really to serve and protect. It sounds cliche, but it really is,” he told the Star-Tribune. “We have an opportunity to partner with people, listen to the community, listen to public and other agency input and make changes if needed.”

Albany County for Proper Policing (ACoPP) backed Appelhans appointment to the position when Sheriff David O’Malley retired.  The ACoPP started a petition to have O’Malley removed from his position after the officer-involved shooting death of 39-year-old Robbie Ramirez during a traffic stop.  They laid further claims of misconduct, negligence and civil rights violations by O’Malley.

Albany County Sheriff Officers have shot three people since O’Malley was re-elected in 2014.  Ramirez’s death was the subject of protestors in Laramie this past June when they called for O’Malley to leave his post.  Albany residents also voiced concern over the hiring of Derek Colling, the officer who shot Ramirez.  Colling was a police officer at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department before coming to Albany county.  Before O’Malley hired Colling, he was involved in two shooting deaths while on the job and was accused of beating up a cameraman for refusing to turn off his camera.  Colling was eventually terminated for violating Metropolitan Police Depart rules.

One of Appelhans’ main goals is implementing training across the department, giving officers the tools to de-escalate crises without resorting to violence.  While Appelhan was at the University of Wyoming Police Department, he served for five years on the board of Laramie’s SAFE Project, a support and advocacy program for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

“I am one of those people who do feel that law enforcement really needs to take a good, hard look at what we do,” Appelhans told the Associated Press. “Are we serving our community?”

Democratic state Rep. Karlee Provenza told the Associated Press that his work with the university force to try to reduce crimes like sexual assault was encouraging.  Provenza, the executive director of ACoPP, is also a lawmaker who helps local Democrats vet sheriff applicants.

O’Malley commented to the Associated Press he thinks Appelhans is in way over his head, but it remains to be seen. On the other hand, the University of Wyoming Police Chief Mike Samp said, Appelhans’ leadership training and experience as a detective and crime prevention point to “likely success” as sheriff.

People who worked with Appelhans before told the Star-Tribune that he has demonstrated what one would expect from someone who will implement activist reform and execute the duties expected to redefine the proper roles of policing.