John Zanoni was born and raised in Fresno and attended San Joaquin Memorial High School.
He attended Fresno State where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and minored in Agricultural Business.
John began his career with the Fresno Sheriff’s Office as a 108 Reserve Deputy Sheriff in May of 1996. He was hired as a full time Deputy Sheriff in November of 1998.
During his career as a Deputy Sheriff he has worked in - Boating Enforcement Unit, Court Services, Detention Custody, Patrol, Uniformed Tactical Assignment, M.A.G.E.C (Multi Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium) Detective and the Search and Rescue Team.
John was promoted to Sheriff’s Sergeant in April of 2005. As a Sheriff’s Sergeant he worked Patrol, Supervised the Patrol Training Program and Civil Unit and also coordinated the Sheriff’s Explorer Program.
He was promoted to Sheriff’s Lieutenant in 2012. As a Sheriff’s Lieutenant he worked Operations Support Services as a Watch Commander, and was Commander of the Human Resources Unit, Internal Affairs Unit, Concealed Weapons Permit and Background Units and was also involved with the Sheriff’s Office Recruitment Team.
John was promoted to Sheriff’s Captain on February 2, 2016. He served as the Operations Support Bureau Captain and as the Patrol Bureau Captain.
He was promoted to Assistant Sheriff in May of 2018 and was in charge of the Field Services Division.
John Zanoni was elected as Sheriff in June 2022. He was sworn in as the 26th Sheriff of Fresno County on January 2, 2023.