ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County came out in full force to celebrate the career of retiring Sheriff David Lucas.

Lucas became sheriff when he was elected to his first term in 2012. He was reelected in 2016 and elected for his third and final term in 2020. He ultimately decided not to run in the 2024 election, which saw his prodigy, Chief Deputy James Zusack, run for sheriff unopposed.

Lucas began his nearly half-century journey in law enforcement in 1979, working for the Barnesville Police Department. He transferred to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department in 1981 as a Road Deputy.

Lucas recalled how he first became an officer,

“I bought into the badge in 1979 when the Barnesville police chief (Chris Ditto) basically gave me an ultimatum,” Lucas said. “He stopped me one evening in one of my cars and asked me when my next day off was. I told him and he said, ‘Meet me at the police station.’ He gave me an ultimatum. He said, ‘You got a choice. You got a choice to join the police force or I’m going to tell my guys that every time they see you to stop you and you get a ticket.’ And I told him, ‘You can’t do that.’ And he said, ‘I’m the police chief. I can do whatever I want.’ And seriously, that’s exactly how it went. Next thing I know I’m in the Police Academy and then I’m a part of the Barnesville Police Department.”

Lucas proudly claims that he takes an old school approach to being sheriff but is known for much more than being tough on crime. He has headed up various community outreach programs such as Handle with Care in conjunction with Belmont County schools and mental health providers, Crime Stoppers of the Upper Ohio Valley, Operation Toy Lift, The National Law Enforcement Explorers Youth Program, the Citizen Academy for Adults, and the Belmont County Dog Park. Due to his grit and determination in constructing the dog park, the Belmont County Board of Commissioners surprised Lucas at the park’s opening day by naming it the David M. Lucas Dog Park.

Belmont County Sheriff’s Department Outreach Coordinator and event organizer Sherri VanTassel said that although law enforcement obviously takes up a large portion of Lucas’ time as a sheriff, she believes that his dedication to community outreach plays a huge part in why he is so beloved by the community.

She added that outreach coordinator is an unpaid position, but she decided to come aboard when Lucas asked her to.

“I’m a volunteer. I’m actually an assistant prosecutor in real life, but he asked me to come on board because he wanted me to do community outreach,” VanTassel said. “So we started doing things like Handle With Care before it was a state mandate. When COVID hit, we did COPE, which was going out and getting groceries and medication for people who couldn’t or shouldn’t get out.”

A longtime friend of Lucas, Jackson County Sheriff Tedd Fraizer, recounted the day that they met. Both Fraizer and Lucas became first-time sheriffs at the same time. When first-time sheriffs get elected, they are required to attend three weeks of schooling at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. According to Fraizer, two of the three weeks that are required ran consecutively, meaning that he and Lucas spent two weeks together. Frazier recalled the first thing he thought when he saw Lucas at the academy was, “Hey, that looks like George Lopez.”

“So the whole first week he became George Lopez. When we’d go to lunch, I’d introduce him to the waiters as George Lopez,” Frazier said.

He added that he picked on Lucas throughout the three weeks of classes, but Lucas got his revenge. According to Fraizer, Lucas went to an adult store and purchased an item to prank Fraizer back. He said that the funniest part of the prank was that Lucas went to the store in his marked sheriff’s cruiser.

Frazier ended his speech by saying, “We’ve been sheriffs together for 12 years. He’s not only my friend but my brother.”

Sheriff-elect Zusack then praised Lucas for not only being a great sheriff but a great friend. Zusack and Lucas aren’t only co-workers and friends but also neighbors. He joked that when he built his house next door to Lucas, he didn’t realize that when he calls off sick he has to make sure he stays hidden from the boss.

“As a neighbor we have a pact. We don’t talk about work on the property unless it’s something very urgent,” Zusack said. “And that’s just respectable, because you don’t talk about work at home and you don’t talk about home at work. That’s the only way we get through this.”

Zusack added that he has worked for three sheriffs in his tenure at the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office. He said he’s learned a lot from all three but believes he learned the most from Lucas.

State Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, wasn’t slated to speak but gave a short speech congratulating Lucas on his retirement.

“I’m Don Jones, state representative of the district, and I’ve been honored to serve this role for the last six years. Before I got into this role I only knew this guy from being on TV, and I’d always tell my wife, “I like that guy because he was high energy and spontaneous.”

He added that in the district he serves, three sheriffs have retired this year. He said that Lucas’ celebration was the most well attended and he believes that is a testament to the work Lucas has provided to the county throughout his years as sheriff.

“This guy is out in the community, he’s involved, he doesn’t get into a shell and kind of hide, and some sheriffs will do that,” Jones said.

He added that he believes some sheriffs tend to shy away from the public eye. He said Lucas has never hidden from scrutiny and has always played an active role in the community that he serves.