Zylak Files for Re-Election


On Monday, September 26th, 2005, Sheriff David D. Zylak filed for Re-Election to the Office of Sheriff for St. Mary's County. Sheriff Zylak began his career with the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office in 1983.

Sheriff Zylak's accomplishments during his first term as Sheriff include but are not limited to:

  • Developed a new promotional system that is equitable and consistent; Realigned the Patrol Division to provide more deputies on the street during peak times
  • Implemented roll call for Patrol Division personnel; Implemented the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (combined investigative unit of personnel from Sheriff's Office and Maryland State Police)
  • Encouraged the Correctional Officer's Association to address employee concerns
  • Reduced the number of vacancies through an aggressive recruitment program
  • Reduced the usage of overtime
  • Began the process of International Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The CALEA on-site inspection is scheduled for August of 2006
  • Refined the Mission Statement of the Sheriff's Office
  • Implemented a Citizens Advisory Board, an avenue to assist the Sheriff's Office by making recommendations for the Sheriff to consider regarding law enforcement matters and/or issues of St. Mary's County
  • Began revising the Administrative and Patrol Manual and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as part of the Accreditation process
  • Held the first Citizens Academy, a mechanism for citizens to attend a six week course that educates them on the Sheriff's Office and the judicial system to better understand law enforcement in St. Mary's County
  • Partnered with the Board of Education as Co-Chair of a Safe Schools Task Force to review the number of arrests and discipline problems within the school system, and make recommendations to reduce the number of incidents
  • Secured "Cold Cases" grant providing overtime money for detectives to review old investigations and examine evidence utilizing more modern technology in an effort to secure an arrest and conviction
  • Signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) with the Maryland State Police agreeing to collect DNA samples from qualified inmates incarcerated at the St. Mary's County Detention Center for inclusion in a statewide database
  • Held the first "Open House" for citizens to visit the Sheriff's Office, meeting deputies and support personnel. Demonstrations by K-9 and Emergency Services Team (EST), children's coloring contest, facility tours and displays of the equipment were all part of the day's events.

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