Sheriff John Anderson was born and raised in Williams, Calif. He enlisted in the United States Army directly out of high school, serving four years in active duty with most of his time being spent in West Germany and as an adviser in Laos.
Upon returning to his home Anderson found work in a local feed mill for a few months before he was approached by the Williams City Police Chief about a potential graveyard shift. Unbeknownst to Anderson this would be the start of a long and fulfilling career in law enforcement.
After a small stint with the Williams City Police Department, Anderson took his first job in a sheriff’s office as a Deputy Sheriff in Stanislaus County (Modesto area) before being appointed to the California Highway Patrol in 1964.