T-L File Photo Chief Deputy James Zusack smiles as he exits his cruiser during a previous shift. He will become the new Belmont County sheriff on Jan. 6, taking over the office as David Lucas retires.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Chief Deputy James Zusack will be serving the people of Belmont County as sheriff starting in 2025.

Zusack has worked in law enforcement for many years. He graduated from Akron University in 1991 with an associate degree in criminal justice and attended the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy at what was then Jefferson Technical College shortly after.

Zusack worked at the old sheriff’s office in St. Clairsville during the summer doing whatever was needed since he didn’t have any arrest powers at that point. He said he learned a lot being around the other deputies who worked there.

The late Tom McCort, a former Belmont County sheriff, hired Zusack to work in the jail, where he was employed for five years. He later was moved to work as a road patrol deputy before being promoted to road sergeant in 2001. In 2009, Zusack still served as a road sergeant but was assigned as the sex offender registration and training officer. In March 2017, he was promoted to chief deputy under Sheriff David Lucas, who will be retiring as Zusack takes the reins.

Zusack said because he served as chief deputy for the past 10 years and with Lucas retiring, his next logical step was to run for sheriff. He said that although it is a big position, he’s been at the office for 33 years and knows what he is doing. He noted that he is confident he will do a good job in the office.

Zusack has worked for three sheriffs, including McCort, Lucas and Fred Thompson. He said all three helped him learn a lot and that he feels lucky to have had experience with each of them.

Zusack will officially become the new sheriff of Belmont County on Jan. 6.

Zusack said he wanted to give a shoutout to Lucas for making the transition very smooth. He said Lucas has brought the office a long way from when he started, making a lot of positive changes, and he wants to continue that work.

Zusack plans to start out slow as sheriff instead of running downhill.

“I got a lot of great people behind me. All my guys and gals behind me, that’s what makes it, not me,” he said. “They’re the ones who make the sheriff’s office look good, they’re the ones that make me look good.”

Zusack said he looks forward to being open and transparent to the people of Belmont County and having his team out doing what they’re supposed to do. He noted that the people of Belmont County always seem to appreciate the work the office does and lets the staff know that.

Zusack likes to talk to people to get other opinions before he makes changes to see what might or might not work. He doesn’t want to start out with anything large out of the gate.

“No drastic changes at this point,” he said but noted that because law enforcement is always changing, the office will have to keep up.

Although Zusack ran uncontested in the Nov. 5 election, which made it less stressful for him, he said the realization that he would be the next sheriff hit him when the results came out and he had to take it in.

“Some part of me thought it was hard to believe that I went from just working in the jail to where I’m at now. It’s humbling,” he said. “That is the best way to describe it. It’s very humbling.”

Zusack plans to serve the community by being transparent, taking care of people who call the office, sometimes with their worst life situations, and protecting the community.

Zusack and his command staff plan to review all of the policies at the office and make any changes that need to be made due to new laws that come out. The team will be reviewing the road and jail policies and procedures when Zusack gets into office and changing them accordingly.

“I always tell my guys and gals to treat that with respect because they’re having a bad situation, and I want them to be empathetic and help them out,” he said. “Of course we’re going to keep the people safe first and foremost.”