PORTAGE COUNTY, Ohio — Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski is embroiled in controversy following a social media post that has been widely condemned as racist and xenophobic. The post, made three days ago, reads: “When asked – 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! So – when the illegal human locusts (which she supports) need places to live – We’ll already have the addresses of their new families – who supported their arrival.”
This inflammatory message was shared on both Sheriff Zuchowski’s personal profile and his official sheriff Facebook page, sparking outrage among residents and activists alike.
This is not the first time Sheriff Zuchowski has found himself at the center of a storm. In July, he was the subject of a New York Post story after publicly challenging Democratic Representative Emilia Sykes. Sykes had introduced the bipartisan Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-escalation Act in June 2024. In a letter to Sykes, Zuchowski accused her of eroding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, claiming she placed political agendas above the well-being of citizens. The bill, H.R. 8871, remains stalled in committee.
Residents have expressed deep concern over Zuchowski’s recent comments, describing them as disturbing and unbecoming of a public official. With Zuchowski currently up for re-election, this latest controversy could have significant implications for his campaign.
The sheriff’s office has yet to issue a statement addressing the backlash, leaving many to wonder how this will impact the already strained relationship between law enforcement and the community.
