Sheriff's lieutenant apologizes for saying he "won't help Democrats"

An Ohio sheriff's patrol commandant who declared connected Facebook that he would not thief Democrats and would require impervious of who a personification voted for earlier providing them assistance has apologized, blaming prescribed slumber immunodeficiency for causing his "out of character" actions.

Lt. John Rodgers, a 20-year sheriff's seasoned successful Clark County, wherever Springfield is nan region seat, made nan statements successful respective posts connected Facebook, CBS connection WHIO-TV reported. In 1 post, he reportedly wrote: "I americium sorry. If you support nan Democrat Party I will not thief you." Another said: "The problem is that I cognize which of you supports nan Democratic Party and I will not thief you past nan extremity of days."

Another station indicated group would request to "provide impervious of who you voted for" if they asked Rodgers for help, nan position reported.

The sheriff's agency said Rodgers, who has commanded nan department's roadworthy patrol, would stay connected duty, pinch a written reprimand for violating nan department's societal media policy.

"I cognize I cannot apologize enough, and my apologies whitethorn look empty, but I will proceed to apologize arsenic agelong arsenic necessary," Rodgers said successful nan statement obtained by WHIO-TV. "I cognize it will beryllium difficult for nan nationalist to spot me, but I will do everything successful my powerfulness to commencement mending that trust. I apologize from nan bottommost of my bosom and want to guarantee our organization I will ever service to nan champion of my expertise and strive to do better. I want to guarantee nan citizens successful our organization that I person ever treated everyone pinch dignity and respect nary matter our differences and will strive to show them I tin do better."

This undated image provided by nan Clark County Ohio Government website shows Lt. John Rodgers, a 20-year seasoned of nan Clark County sheriff's office, who posted connected Facebook that he would not thief group who support nan Democratic Party. Clark County Ohio Government Website via AP

Clark County has been successful nan spotlight since Republican statesmanlike nominee Donald Trump amplified false claims that Haitian immigrants successful Springfield were eating people's pet dogs and cats.

A sheriff's connection said nan posts do not bespeak nan office's ngo and values.

"It is understood that while these comments are highly inappropriate, they successful nary intends bespeak nan Clark County Sheriff's Office transportation of work to ALL our community," nan connection said. "The organization has a correct to beryllium upset complete nan actions of Lt. Rodgers and he, arsenic good arsenic nan Sheriff's Office successful general, will person to activity moreover harder to replenish nan spot of members of our community."

Rodgers formally responded to nan reprimand, penning successful a missive successful his unit record that he does not callback penning nan posts aliases taking them down, and was alerted to them erstwhile a coworker asked if he was OK, nan Springfield News-Sun reported. Rodgers wrote that he did not find them connected his page erstwhile he searched for them and that nan first clip he saw them was during a gathering pinch a section official.

Rodgers said he sometimes takes a prescribed slumber assistance that tin origin him to nonstop "out of character" texts, telephone calls aliases different forms of connection arsenic a broadside effect. The lieutenant said that arsenic soon arsenic he learned of nan messages connected Tuesday, he deactivated his Facebook relationship and stopped taking nan medication, nan newspaper reported.

"We've been successful this conflict complete nan past fewer months, pinch nan attacks connected nan Haitian organization and different immigrants, and we protect people's authorities and we don't support nan behaviour to nan contrary," Mike Young, nan county's main deputy, told nan newspaper. "I can't spell backmost successful clip and return that station away; nan lieutenant made nan station and he has received consequences for that."

Clark is not nan only Ohio region dealing pinch arguable statements made by rule enforcement officials connected societal media.

The U.S. Justice Department said its predetermination monitoring efforts will see Portage County, wherever a sheriff was accused of intimidating voters past month, to make judge nan region complies pinch national voting authorities laws during early voting and connected Election Day.

The department's announcement came aft Republican Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski posted connected societal media that group pinch Kamala Harris gait signs should person their addresses written down truthful that immigrants tin beryllium sent to unrecorded pinch them if nan Democrat wins nan presidency.

In:
• Ohio
• 2024 Elections