KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — What began as an overwhelming rebuke from rank-and-file deputies now appears to have extended to the highest levels of leadership within the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. Months after approximately 98–99% of voting members of the Kenosha County Deputy Sheriff’s Association backed Captain Tony Gonzalez in the race for sheriff, Sheriff David Zoerner is now facing an even more striking development: personal endorsements for Gonzalez from members of what amounts to Zoerner’s entire command staff structure.

Kenosha County Eye obtained a signed endorsement letter from Chief Deputy Justin Miller, Captain Bryan Easter and Captain Steve Beranis. While the endorsements were made as private citizens and explicitly state they are not official endorsements from the Sheriff’s Office itself, the significance comes from who signed the document.

Command Structure Aligns Behind Challenger

Under the Sheriff’s Office structure, Sheriff David Zoerner sits at the top as the elected head of the agency. Directly below him is Chief Deputy Justin Miller, the second-highest-ranking official within the Sheriff’s Office and effectively Zoerner’s second-in-command. Below that level are captains responsible for major operational divisions of the agency.

Captain Tony Gonzalez, who is challenging Zoerner for sheriff, currently oversees administration. Captain Steve Beranis oversees operations, including patrol and investigative functions. Captain Bryan Easter oversees the county’s detention division and jail operations.

With Gonzalez himself running for sheriff and Chief Deputy Justin Miller, Captain Steve Beranis and Captain Bryan Easter now personally backing him, all members of the Sheriff’s Office command structure aside from Zoerner himself are aligned behind Gonzalez’s candidacy.

The endorsement letter repeatedly emphasizes that the support is being made as private citizens and “does not reflect the views of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office as a whole.” However, while departmental endorsements are prohibited, individual endorsements from some of the agency’s highest-ranking leaders carry obvious significance in a sheriff’s race where leadership and morale have already become central campaign issues.

The men wrote that after evaluating those seeking the office, they believed Gonzalez was “the candidate best prepared to serve as Kenosha County Sheriff.”

“Based on those experiences, and after carefully evaluating the qualifications of those seeking this role, we believe Tony Gonzalez is the candidate best prepared to serve as Kenosha County Sheriff,” the endorsement states.

Support Extends Beyond Command Staff

The latest developments also appear to add to a broader perception of support for Gonzalez within the Sheriff’s Office.

Longtime Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Zarletti has publicly shown support for Gonzalez. In addition, multiple Sheriff’s Office personnel have been observed off duty attending campaign events and assisting Gonzalez’s campaign efforts. While participating in campaign activities does not itself constitute a formal endorsement, those observations have added to discussion regarding the apparent level of support Gonzalez appears to be receiving internally.

Combined with the deputy association’s overwhelming vote, support for Gonzalez appears to stretch from deputies through supervisory ranks and into the highest levels of agency leadership.

Gonzalez Responds

Gonzalez issued a statement expressing gratitude for the support.

“I am truly honored to receive the personal support of Justin Miller, Bryan Easter and Steve Beranis,” Gonzalez said.

“These men are respected professionals who currently serve our community as members of the command staff at the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. Because they understand the responsibilities and challenges that come with law enforcement leadership, their confidence in me means a great deal.”

He further emphasized that the endorsements were personal and not representative of the Sheriff’s Office itself.

“They have made it clear they are speaking only as private citizens, and their support does not represent an official endorsement from the Sheriff’s Office.”

Beller Responds

Kenosha County Eye also reached out to Captain James Beller regarding the endorsement letter and growing perceptions of internal support for Gonzalez.

Beller responded that it is “clear there are differing views regarding the leadership and direction of the Sheriff’s Office” and said those concerns were reinforced during the deputy sheriff’s forum, where many questions centered around morale, leadership decisions, staffing concerns and the overall direction of the organization.

Beller stated that if elected sheriff, he would focus on bringing people together and fostering a culture built on accountability, professionalism and unity.

“As Sheriff, I’ll do what I’ve always done as a leader: listen, bring people to the table, and foster a culture built on accountability, professionalism, and unity,” Beller wrote.

Beller also stated that voters “can be assured” his leadership would provide “a new direction” for the Sheriff’s Office focused on supporting deputies, strengthening the organization and moving the office forward “without internal division or politics.”

“The people of Kenosha County deserve a Sheriff’s Office built on trust, strong leadership, accountability, and respect for the men and women doing the job every day,” Beller wrote.

Zoerner Asked to Respond

Kenosha County Eye also reached out to Sheriff David Zoerner regarding what appears to be substantial internal support for Gonzalez over the incumbent sheriff.

Zoerner was asked whether he wished to comment on what appears to be overwhelming support for Gonzalez from within the Sheriff’s Office, beginning with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association vote and now extending into the command staff level.

As of publication, Zoerner had not responded. He has touted the endorsements of Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Village of Somers President George Stoner, but political insiders say each alone, could cost Zoerner many votes in what was was considered a close election.

The endorsement letter in its entirety is published below.