(Submitted Photo)
KENOSHA, Wis. — James M. Beller (R), a United States Army veteran and nearly 30-year law enforcement officer, has announced his candidacy for Kenosha County sheriff, presenting himself as a candidate with elite federal training, decades of command-level experience, and a sharply different vision for leadership and inter-agency cooperation than the current administration.
Beller, who currently serves as a captain with the City of Kenosha Police Department, announced his candidacy this week, emphasizing a career that spans military service and nearly every rank within a modern police department. During his career, Beller has served as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain, gaining experience across patrol operations, criminal investigations, internal affairs, administration, and executive leadership. He was also one of three finalists in the City of Kenosha’s most recent police chief promotion process. Beller has said his time in the United States Army, in particular, shaped his approach to discipline, accountability, and leadership under pressure.
(Submitted Photo)
A central pillar of Beller’s campaign is his completion of the FBI National Academy, a highly selective, 10-week executive program in Quantico, Virginia, attended by a small percentage of law-enforcement leaders nationwide. It has been roughly two decades since a Kenosha police officer or a Kenosha sheriff’s deputy completed the program. Only one other law-enforcement officer in Kenosha County currently holds that credential — a Pleasant Prairie police assistant chief.
The training is widely regarded as elite, focusing on advanced leadership, organizational management, ethics, crisis decision-making, and coordination across agencies. Beller has emphasized that this level of preparation is particularly relevant for a sheriff, who must oversee jail operations, patrol functions, civil process, and cooperation with local, state, and federal law-enforcement partners.
Beller also holds a Master of Science degree in criminal justice and is a graduate of Command College, advanced leadership programs focused on executive-level law-enforcement management, organizational leadership, ethics, and public-sector accountability. His résumé also includes certification as a public manager, reflecting formal training in administration and government operations.
(Submitted Photo)
In announcing his run, Beller publicly praised the workforce within the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, including deputies and command staff — seemingly referencing the chief deputy, captains, lieutenants, and sergeants — while signaling that stronger leadership is needed at the top of the organization.
“Kenosha County is served by dedicated professionals and a strong supervisory staff who show up every day committed to public safety,” Beller said in his prepared statement. “They deserve leadership at the top that stands with them, supports their work, strengthens partnerships, and fully understands the weight of the responsibility entrusted to the Sheriff.”
Beller is also drawing a clear policy contrast on immigration enforcement and cooperation with federal authorities. He has said that if elected, he intends to enter into a 287(g) agreement, a formal partnership authorized under federal law that allows trained local jail staff to work with federal immigration authorities on individuals already lawfully in custody for serious criminal offenses.
For readers unfamiliar with the policy, a 287(g) agreement does not authorize street-level immigration enforcement. Instead, it applies inside jails, where local authorities may share information and coordinate with federal agencies regarding inmates who are already arrested and detained on criminal charges. Beller has said the agreement would be implemented professionally, lawfully, and with a narrow focus on public safety.
That position stands in contrast to the current sheriff, who has publicly stated he will not enter into a 287(g) agreement and has pledged not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal agencies have, at times, conducted operations in Kenosha County without notifying the Sheriff’s Office, highlighting strained communication and fractured inter-agency relationships.
(Submitted Photo)
Beyond immigration policy, Beller has pointed to his current role overseeing one of the City of Kenosha Police Department’s most complex divisions as further preparation for the job of sheriff. In his announcement, he said he currently leads multiple specialized investigative units and has extensive experience in training, professional standards, administration, and executive decision-making, adding that his background has prepared him to run a large, multifaceted organization with significant public-safety responsibilities.
The current sheriff has not yet announced whether he intends to seek reelection. Beller is widely expected to be the front-runner on the Republican ticket should the incumbent enter the race, setting the stage for a high-profile contest over the future leadership of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office.
The current sheriff recently praised Beller by telling Kenosha County Eye “Captain Beller is a committed public servant and his accomplishment at the FBI National Academy is extremely impressive. His training and experience in Quantico will be an asset to the Kenosha County Law Enforcement Community.”
If a primary election is required, it will be held on Aug. 11, 2026. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
40 Responses
Another bureaucrat. I’d rather have someone who was a deputy in the county.
We have seen how that has worked. Put the wrong sign in your yard and black balled by the sheriff. He sends his buddies out to see what’s in your yard. To much good ole boy politics in KSD.
Beller had “boots on the ground” for many years.
Guess you suddenly trust the FBI?
You would rather vote in someone with little to no supervisory experience just because they work for KSD? Doesn’t make sense.
Captain Beller you have my vote!
Jimmy is a competent cop who has a background from the bottom up. FBI Academy is nice but is not the “be all to end all.” (Ask JF). One question….is JB gonna retire first? Ethically he should retire as cops are not political but sheriffs are. Same question when former KPD guys ran. Obviously he is not done being a cop and wants more. Good luck JB!
Watcher
JF could not use the education from the FBI academy. Spent several years on sick leave. Was dancing in a cast at the City Administrators birthday party while out on leave. It was a waist of a spot at the academy.
Who is “JF”?
Finley
Oh you want a double dipper in there.
Our current Sheriff has been a disappointment, especially with his lack of cooperation with ICE. We need a cops cop and Beller can be that guy. He’ll have my vote!
The current sheriff is a Democrat posing as a Republican to disrupt civic life and ensure the public suffers for not voting for the Democrat tribe. The same
No way Beller is going to cooperate with ICE. County board won’t allow it
County Board has no say over law enforcement decisions other than budget.
Current Sheriff Elmer Dudd…
Sounds like an excellent choice compared to the traitor to America currently in the Sheriff’s office. Imagine someone who’d fight to turn loose an illegal with a warrant on him, calling himself a law enforcement officer. Shame on our current Sheriff! He should be in the jail.
He will most likely have my vote. Depends if he is a RINO in sheep’s clothing too!!
I know Beller is a solid RED candidate. Not a RINO.
Back when he was running a few years ago, I questioned Erin Decker about why I should vote for Zoerner, when he previously ran as a dem. She told me that he was a good, strong republican, and that he only ran as a (D) because he had to play political games.
See how that played out. Speaks a lot about Decker, too.
Beller can’t be worse than Zoerner or Beth. Nowhere to go but up!
Beller has my vote.
I worked with Jim for many years. He’s a good cop who has grown over the years to embrace management challenges. Maybe KSD needs someone as sheriff who is NOT from within the department. Ordinarily I wouldn’t say that but it seems that every time there’s a contested sheriff’s election deputies are drawn into two (or more) camps with the victor getting the spoils. That’s not an ideal way to run a modern police agency.
I am concerned with ANYONE playing politics over these so-called “287(g) agreements.” Some people are upset with Sheriff Zoerner for purportedly declining to sign one and Jim says he would. Supposedly the county’s legal counsel advised against it. If that’s true, the sheriff, corporation counsel and county executive should be able to tell us why. Maybe there’s a good reason, maybe not, but it should at least give pause to take a measured and NONPOLITICAL approach. At the end of the day, jail inmates are reportedly screened to determine if there are outstanding warrants in any event.
Got my vote!! lets go Beller! Let us know where we can pick up our signs and sign!
Actually, the 287g program has 3 separate facets. The “jail enforcement model” in which inmates are screened by jail staff to determine if they are removable or not. The “warrant service officer model”, which allows deputies/detectives to serve warrants on removable aliens that are in custody. Finally, the “task force officer model” in which deputies/detectives would participate in ICE lead task forces. ICE does pay for the training, (but not the overtime to back fill the position of those attending the training). Each of these models take correctional officers (jail model) or deputies/detectives (warrant service or task force models) away from their primary duties of patrolling the county.
IF the jail and/or patrol divisions have the bodies to allocate to these additional duties, it’s not an issue. Otherwise, the citizens of the county aren’t receiving the same level of service they would if the department didn’t participate. I’m all for participating in the program, but they have to have to personnel available to do it without affecting other services.
I would say Beller takes down Chief Wiggum and incapacitates hime within 30 seconds.
I will take a former physical bad ass over a never was any day. The brain remains the same.
I worked with Jim for 20yrs.
He is a solid, no nonsense cop.
He will not *Zoerner* his core beliefs.
I worked with both of them.
I WILL not vote for Zoerner again.
First, you should have capitalized NOT, not the word WILL. “I will NOT vote for blah blah” puts the emphasis on your intention.
Second, what is it you’re so against Zoerner for? Because he kept the city independent of Federal entanglements? You do realize, when ICE and DHS are exposed for abusing detainees and selling people to third party countries as slave labor it could very well lead to people being arrested? You sure you want Kenosha to be involved with all that?
You watch too much TV!
Great news on James Beller — he’s got my vote.
Anyone but Zoerner!!
Goodbye Zoner, you’ve overstayed your welcome.
….IF the jail and/or patrol divisions have the bodies to allocate to these additional duties, it’s not an issue…..NO, the jail does not. The jail and detention center cannot keep officers. The county and sheriff’s office have been treating the detentions division as the red headed step children for decades. State DOC start their corrections officers at what the County tops out at. State CO’S are fully funded protective service employees that receive post retirement health insurance options. The County offers nothing to retain employees, resulting in good officers leaving for the state.
Sheriff Zoerner, Not pressing charges against Kmiec is somewhat acceptable, as the DA did not pursue them either. However, upon learning that you released that illegal immigrant while refusing to cooperate with ICE, I now see how you betrayed my vote and the hopes I had in you. You are a traitor.
Welcome Mr. Beller
Outstanding to hear. James has always been a standup guy with a good head on his shoulder. And now with all his training and experience, this is HUGE for our county.
(Although I would have scrubbed the treasonous Wray out of that photo)
Excellent!!!!
All I know is, a picture with the corrupt Wray isn’t a smart move…
Looks like that photo is celebrating Bellers completion of the FBI National Academy for high ranking law-enforcement executives. He’s the only candidate for sheriff to have that training.
Not a fan. If you can’t keep your own house in order, how do you create order in society.
This newest candidate you introduced I can get on board with.
Beller for the win!! Zorner doesn’t have a chance
Got my vote
We need men who are willing to stand up for the rights of the people here and protect our children and to get a better community relations with our communities and hire men and women thst stand on the constitution my rights were giving to me by god so we need to get men who love god