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.