His job description seems pretty simple – protect and serve as the sheriff of Belmont County.
And James Zusack always wants to do the right thing for his wife and son, for his deputies and staff, his constituents, and for the folks whose homes rest within the 532 square miles that is Belmont County. Protect and serve; simple. At least to the public anyway.
But Zusack has over 30 years of law enforcement experience so he’s aware there’s a little more to the enforcement of Ohio’s revised codes, and that’s why during those decades he’s become a proper and polite protector who appreciates peace, celebrates success, and who puts the people first and himself last. There’s an innocence about Sheriff Zusack even though he’s seen and heard and felt the ugliness of crime over and over again, and that’s because he’s figured how to escape it all when given the chance.
He can cook very well and often shares pictorials and recipes on his personal Facebook page, and Zusack puts up his “Gone Fishing” sign every opportunity he gets to put down his service weapon in favor of his tackle box.
Protect and serve? Simple?
Sure, if that’s how you describe dealing daily with alleged wife beaters, drug dealers, drunk drivers, murders, child molesters, shoplifters, thieves, arsonists, rapists, overdose death victims, and everyone else who are experiencing the worst days of their lives.
Have you ever broken the law?
I’m sure in my younger days I did some things that may have been questionable, but I was blessed to grow up in the days of no cell phones or social media. Marilee, my mother, was the law. She put the fear in me to be respectful and honest. Joe, my father, was a beast of a man, but also answered to the law, Marilee.
I miss both of them and was very fortunate to have them teach me valuable lessons to be a good person.
You’ve honored deputies and staff members at the end of each month since becoming Belmont County’s sheriff on January 6th. Why?
I have given numerous Commendation certificates to those that deserved to be recognized for a job well done. Nothing beats positive motivation, and it’s these guys and gals that make the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office look good. I am very proud of my staff and will continue to do this each month.
Do you prefer to go fishing alone or with other people?
I prefer to go fishing, period. Alone or with other people, as long as I have a line in the water, I’m in my happy place.
What meal have you cooked that was really, really bad?
This question would be better answered by my biggest food critic, Jodi Zusack. Yes, my wife can be brutally honest when it comes to my cooking. I have gotten more compliments than complaints from her, so I must be doing something right.
I will admit that my brother, Patrick, and brother-in-law, Henry, are better chefs than I am, but cooking takes second place to fishing as far as the things I love to do.
Why do you like to help people?
This occupation is all about helping people on what might be their worse day ever. I have learned empathy and compassion throughout my law enforcement career. I try to help somebody every day.
To me, nothing is more gratifying.
