LAWRENCE, KS (MyKeeneNow) Cheshire County Sheriff Eli Rivera has been elected president of a national organization representing the majority of the country’s police and sheriff’s departments.

Rivera, who has led the sheriff’s office in Keene for more than a decade, was sworn in this month as president of the Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA). The announcement came during the group’s annual conference, held this year in Lawrence, Kansas.

SRLEEA advocates for the needs of law enforcement agencies in small towns, rural areas, and tribal communities — departments that often face the same challenges as large cities but with far fewer resources. According to the association, more than 90 percent of police and sheriff’s offices in the U.S. fall into this category.

“It is an honor to represent the dedicated men and women of small, rural, and tribal law enforcement,” Rivera said after taking office. “We may serve in communities that are often overlooked on the national stage, but our commitment to public safety, justice, and our neighbors is second to none.”

Retired Chief John Thompson, the association’s executive vice president, praised the incoming leadership team. “Their communities may be smaller in population, but the challenges they face are just as complex,” Thompson said. “Their voices are critical in shaping the national conversation on public safety.”

The Lawrence conference, which drew chiefs, sheriffs, and public safety leaders from across the country, focused on shared strategies for officer wellness, tribal partnerships, and strengthening ties with the communities agencies serve.

Rivera said one of his priorities as president will be ensuring small and rural departments receive equal access to training and funding. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among agencies that are geographically distant but face similar issues.

“From New England villages to western tribal lands, our agencies are united by common values,” Rivera said. “This board will work to make sure those values — and those voices — are heard at every level of government.”