Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons. In a controversial Facebook post, Zuchowski urged his followers to monitor and record the addresses of residents who display support for Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. His suggestion that Harris supporters would later house undocumented immigrants — whom he referred to as “locusts” — was not just an act of voter intimidation; it was a chilling abuse of power and a gross display of xenophobia.
Zuchowski, who was elected in 2021, unleashed a storm of outrage with his divisive comments. The post sparked backlash from civil rights organizations and community leaders alike. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio voiced strong condemnation, pointing out that such rhetoric fosters hostility and fear, which is particularly dangerous coming from a public official tasked with protecting all residents of his county, regardless of their political leanings.
For those unfamiliar with the full context, here’s what happened: Zuchowski’s post not only implied that Harris supporters were complicit in illegal immigration, but also encouraged his followers to engage in a form of harassment by tracking them. Such a tactic closely mirrors voter suppression strategies that aim to intimidate political opponents into silence. The fact that this rhetoric came from a sheriff — someone sworn to uphold the law — makes it even more alarming.
In his post, Zuchowski wrote: “When people ask me… What’s gonna happen if the Flip-Flopping, Laughing Hyena Wins?? I say… write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards!” His language was inflammatory and crude, casting Harris as a “Laughing Hyena” and using coded language that stoked fear of undocumented immigrants as a plague upon society. In suggesting that supporters of Harris were aligned with lawbreaking, Zuchowski revealed a deeply partisan and biased perspective.
Zuchowski’s use of the term “locust” to describe immigrants was perhaps the most disturbing part of the post. Dehumanizing language like this has no place in civil discourse, let alone from a public servant. History shows us that when marginalized groups are dehumanized, it opens the door for persecution and violence. Coming from a sheriff, this language is particularly dangerous because it can embolden extremists and fuel already existing tensions in the community.
It is crucial for public officials, especially those in law enforcement, to remain impartial and uphold the rights of all citizens. Instead, Zuchowski’s words exhibit a clear bias and disregard for a significant portion of the population he serves. His actions suggest that he is more interested in sowing division than ensuring the safety and well-being of Portage County’s residents.
Beyond the clear ethical problems, Zuchowski’s post may also have legal implications. The ACLU’s Ohio chapter has raised concerns about potential voter intimidation, and civil rights advocates argue that urging people to record the addresses of political opponents is a violation of basic democratic principles.
Zuchowski’s defenders claim that he was merely expressing his views in a humorous way, but there is nothing funny about promoting fear and division. A sheriff’s role is to serve and protect all members of the community, not to pit one group against another. This incident raises serious questions about whether Zuchowski is capable of fulfilling that duty.
Portage County may have leaned Republican in the 2020 election, but that does not excuse the sheriff’s actions. His inflammatory post goes far beyond political differences — it strikes at the heart of democratic principles. Elected officials, particularly law enforcement, should work to bridge divides in their communities, not deepen them.
Zuchowski’s words and actions reveal a dangerous disregard for inclusivity, fairness, and the safety of those he is sworn to protect. As a law enforcement officer, he has demonstrated that he cannot be trusted to serve all residents equally, regardless of their political beliefs. Portage County deserves a sheriff who will respect the law and the diverse views of the community, rather than someone who promotes division and intimidation.
Sheriff Zuchowski’s post is more than a misguided social media rant — it’s a window into the way he views his role in the community. And that view makes him unfit for office.
Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski’s recent actions and rhetoric demonstrate a clear abuse of his position. His inflammatory post serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by those in power who choose to incite division rather than foster unity. It’s time for Portage County to demand better leadership — leadership that is rooted in integrity, fairness, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and rights of all citizens. Zuchowski has proven himself unworthy of that responsibility.
