SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A patrol commander with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office has issued an apology after making controversial statements on Facebook regarding his refusal to assist Democrats. Lieutenant John Rodgers, a 20-year veteran, attributed his “out of character” behavior to prescribed sleep medications.
Rodgers faced backlash for multiple posts in which he declared he would not aid individuals who support the Democratic Party. In one of his messages, he expressed: “I am sorry. If you support the Democrat Party I will not help you.” He further asserted, “The problem is that I know which of you supports the Democratic Party and I will not help you survive the end of days.” Local news sources reported on the fallout from these statements.
Despite the controversy, the Sheriff’s office stated that Rodgers would continue his duties, though he will receive a formal reprimand for breaching the department’s social media policy. The posts sparked renewed scrutiny for Clark County, which had recently been in the news following false claims circulating about Haitian immigrants in Springfield.
A statement from the sheriff’s office condemned Rodgers’ remarks, asserting that they do not align with the office’s core values and mission. The statement read, “It is understood that while these comments are highly inappropriate, they in no means reflect the Clark County Sheriff’s Office delivery of service to ALL our community.” The sheriff’s office acknowledged the community’s right to be upset and emphasized the need for efforts to rebuild trust with residents.
In his response to the reprimand, Rodgers claimed he did not remember authoring the posts and only became aware of them when a colleague checked on him. He mentioned that a search of his profile revealed nothing relevant, and he first saw the posts during a departmental meeting. He stated that a prescribed sleep aid might have led him to send “out of character” communications, and upon learning of his posts, he deactivated his Facebook account and ceased taking the medication.
Mike Young, the county’s chief deputy, noted the ongoing challenges faced by the community, especially regarding the rights of immigrants. He remarked, “We’ve been in this battle over the last few months, with the attacks on the Haitian community and other immigrants, and we protect people’s rights and we don’t support the conduct to the contrary.” Young reiterated the reality that Rodgers’ actions have consequences.
Rodgers’ situation is not isolated, as other counties in Ohio are also grappling with problematic social media statements from law enforcement. Recently, the U.S. Justice Department announced election monitoring efforts in Portage County following accusations against a sheriff of intimidating voters. This follows a social media post made by Republican Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski, in which he suggested that homes displaying Kamala Harris yard signs should have their addresses noted for potential relocation of immigrants if Democrats were to win the presidency.