CLARK COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) — A Lieutenant for an Ohio sheriff’s Office is making headlines after some of his social media posts caught the public’s eye.
According to news station WHIO, John Rodgers, a Clark County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant for more than 20 years, made several Facebook posts that brought a lot of scrutiny to himself and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Some posts, which have been shared more than 250,000, suggested that Rodgers would factor in a caller’s voting preference when responding to emergency calls.
Other posts stated, “I am sorry. If you support the Democratic Party, I will not help you” and “The problem is that I know which of you supports the Democratic Party, and I will not help you survive the end of days.”
Rodgers also reportedly wrote in another post that people would need to “provide proof of who you voted for” before rendering aid.
Chief Deputy Mike Young sent a statement to the news station that says, in part, the “Office agrees the comments made were highly inappropriate and do not reflect the Sheriff’s Office’s service delivery to all residents, regardless of their voting preference.” He stated that the station and Lt. Rodgers would work especially hard to regain the public’s trust.
It is also suggested that a possible medical issue is involved in Rodgers’ actions.
WHIO obtained an investigative file and discovered in an inter-office communication with supervisors that Rodgers wrote, “I do not remember writing these posts or deleting any posts.”
The file also indicates that Rodgers is prescribed sleeping medication, which Rodgers documented, “It does cause some of my communication to be ‘out of character’ which is a documented side effect.”
The Sheriff’s Office reportedly apologized for Rodgers’ behavior and said he received a written reprimand for violating the department’s social media policy and will remain on duty.