"Ask the Sheriff" isn't "for sissies," says Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones. Nor is he afraid to answer your "hard questions." Including whether or not he would eat a cicada.
The Sheriff's YouTube segment, which first started during the pandemic and then took a six-month hiatus, comes complete with theme music and a Q&A session led by Sgt. Kim Peters. Facebook, Twitter or Instagram followers think up the questions.
Did you know Jones prefers buritos over tacos? That's one of the questions he was asked in the first episode. But the Sheriff spent more time talking about his favorite food, which it turns out, is cheeseburgers, baked chicken and steak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNylzQa36Lo
It's no surprise Jones likes burgers based on his tweets.
— Richard K. Jones (@butlersheriff) June 13, 2021
He also went on a rant about his favorite drink - Pepsi. He called out the company, asking they bring back the original version. "If you're watching this - start making throw-back Pepsi again. It's made with real sugar." If not, he says he's considering a switch to Coke. At the grocery store, he buys as many as eight 12-packs of Pepsi at a time.
Sgt. Peters wanted to know if the Sheriff would eat a cicada.
"I probably maybe would if somebody would tell me it wouldn't kill me or make me sick. I know my dog has ate 'em before," says Jones.
Peters saved up a more serious question for the Sheriff for Episode 2. Somebody wondered if the Sheriff is a constitutionalist.
"You'll see I'm a little different," he replied. "I stand up to bureaucrats and other elected officials and that don't enforce the constitution. So, yes, I'm a constitutional sheriff. I was a constitutional sheriff before it had a name!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJJNZg_mAWE
Jones is no stranger to controversy. He is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump and has built a national reputation as a crusader against people who enter the country illegally. He also made headlines during the coronavirus pandemic for an appearance on CNN where he stated he would not enforce Gov. Mike DeWine's mask mandate. "I'm not going to be the mask police," he said at the time.
Not every question or comment that comes his way is kind, as Peters pointed out.
To that Jones responded, "My skin is so thick when I go to the doctor they have to shoot me with a harpoon just to get it in. This type of work you can't be thin-skinned. A lot of these comments are probably from my family. Not all my family likes me."
Jones has taken this segment on the road and is considering doing it again. Episode 3 comes out this week.
