Ohio sheriff's lieutenant who said he won't help Democrats deletes posts, apologizes

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Published 7:30 p.m. ET Nov. 4, 2024


A sheriff's office in Springfield, Ohio is facing backlash after a lieutenant said on Facebook that he would not help Democrats. Lt. John Rodgers of the Clark County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook recently that he wanted proof of whom someone was voting for before helping them, according to the Springfield News-Sun.

"I am sorry. If you support the Democrat Party I will not help you," one of Rodgers' since-deleted posts read, according to local station WHIO-TV. Another post stated "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 has since deleted his Facebook account and apologized for his comments. The sheriff's office did not immediately reply to USA TODAY's request for comment Monday.

Rodgers told the Springfield News-Sun that he takes medication to help him sleep and that causes him to make "out of character" phone calls, texts and statements. An internal investigative file revealed that he insisted his comment was a "documented side-effect" of a prescribed sleep aids, WHIO-TV reported. "I do not remember writing these posts or deleting any posts," Rodgers wrote to supervisors, according to the station.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/04/springfield-ohio-sheriff-facebook-comments-democrats/76052689007/

[OldBaldy1701E]

1. Uh huh...

Rodgers told the Springfield News-Sun that he takes medication to help him sleep and that causes him to make "out of character" phone calls, texts and statements.

Yeah... oldest excuse in the books. How about you resign before you are run out of town, you dictatorial fascist.

There is no room on any police force for someone who picks and chooses who he helps. Fire that guy. Immediately.

[riversedge]

14. At the very least, he needs to be relieved of his duties and check himself into in-house

psychological therapy-long term.

I am only guessing, but perhaps he belongs to a union that could help him with costs.

[OldBaldy1701E]

49. Not a bad idea. (n/t)

[Escurumbele]

30. He just gave a reason to be discharged of his duties, how can he be a sheriff, carry a gun if his meds make him

act weird? He is a danger to society, who knows what the meds can make him do, would he shoot an innocent person because of the influence of the meds he takes? He must be taken out of his post, guns must be taken away from him before he does something he "doesn't know what he is doing".

[OldBaldy1701E]

48. Exactly! (n/t)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. "out of character"? Can't have that. He might actually help a homeless person.

(end sarcasm)

... or he might in an out-of-character phase shoot them instead. He should be fired immediately for fundamental incompetence of empathy at least, maybe for election interference by threatening Democratic voters close to an election.

[groundloop]

3. He's not fit to be a public servant.

I don't for a second believe his lame excuse, but even if that were true he shouldn't be in law enforcement. He needs to find a new line of work where he's not a danger to people.

[Raven123]

4. Just voiced his inner thoughts. Should be fired for those thoughts

[Walleye]

5. Can't believe they let this guy carry a gun and order them around

[riversedge]

16. It is NOT the Haitian's living in Springfield, OHIO who are the problem as Trump claims, but the sheriff's office

Whow--this city in going through a lot!!




...........The sheriff’s office is located in Springfield, Ohio, which garnered national attention after former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims that Haitian migrants in the city are stealing and eating pets during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a News Nation interview last month, Trump said he would deport Haitian migrants in Springfield who have legal residency if elected.

"Springfield is such a beautiful place. Have you seen what's happened to it? It's been overrun. You can't do that to people. They have to be removed," Trump told the outlet.

Springfield officials have refuted the depiction of the city.

......?width=1320&height=874&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp

[LilElf70]

6. Sleeping aids?

BULLSHIT!!! Fire his ass. He obviously cannot serve all the people. It's all there, right in front of us.

[Swede]

7. Well if he is that addled, take his gun and badge.

nt

[LiberalArkie]

8. No the meds do not make you make out of character remarks

They surpress the persons ability to contain their thoughts and actions. Like the people on ambien raiding the fridge while asleep or getting out of bed and going driving without even putting on clothes or waking up.

[wolfie001]

9. His post should be titled, "Former Lieutenant Rodgers"

Nothing less.

[niyad]

10. Reallllly? A side effect of (possibly) ambien? First I had heard of such a side

effect. Sleepwalking, and sleep eating, yes.

[Zambero]

11. He needs to find a new line of work

that doesn't "require" him to make lame excuses regarding a proclaimed unwillingness to assist citizens who pay his salary.

[mwb970]

12. He is unfit for his job, obviously.

Fire him. Now.

[Vinca]

13. Fire him anyway. Maybe he can get a job at the Trump Garbage Company.

[2naSalit]

15. Should have...

Lost his job yesterday!

[maxrandb]

19. I am just surprised he didn't blame his behavior on "economic angst"

[maxrandb]

17. I get it. If my old, white, male fuhrer was going to get his ass kicked

by a young, vibrant, multiracial woman, I'd be having trouble sleeping too.

In fact, if I was a deplorable, piece of amphibian shit racist, I too would need a sleep aid, just to tolerate being alone with myself.

I guess this answers the; "how in the fuck do you sleep at night?" question.

[AZLD4Candidate]

18. I take medication to help me sleep. It doesn't make anyone act out of character. Youre an asshole, LT.

I would wonder if "I don't remember doing it" would be a good, acceptable defense in a DUI case when you arrest a drunk driver, you scumbag.

[hot2na]

20. Why is he not fired already!!!!

[Blue for the win]

21. Fire them all

I think the whole sheriff's office should be replaced if they believe even one word of this b*******

[ReRe]

22. He can't use that as an excuse.

Cause if true, he's telling on himself.

I say kick him out of law enforcement, forever.

He's a known liar. If he's a liar, he's a cheat.

[travelingthrulife]

23. not good enough

he needs to no longer be a sheriff.

[Grins]

24. What's missing from this story...

"Shortly after apologizing, Lt. Rodgers resigned before he could be terminated."

Jesus on toast; this guy was a Lieutenant!!!! Not the patrolman that the public regularly sees. That means he had experience - and a history. A history not corrected by the Sheriff. Who should also resign.

[Harker]

25. So much for personal responsibility. n/t

[PittBlue]

26. Typical, lying trumper.

They won’t have the guts to fire him.

[Island Blue]

27. Riiiiiiigt.

If he’s so heavily drugged that it causes him to act “out of character”, perhaps he shouldn’t have a job that requires him to be armed & in control of others who are armed.

[truthisfreedom]

28. Sounds like he's perfectly safe with a gun

And a badge.” Keep poppin’ them pills, boy, they make your mind right!”

[steelyboo]

29. Love the "end of days" bullshit

didn't know that Ambien had a side effect of turning you into one of those crazy Christians that walks around asking everyone if you "are right with the Lord? because the end is nigh!"

[Collimator]

43. People who are gleefully rubbing their hands as they await the end of the world. . .

. . . Have less of a stake in the future of our country than childless cat ladies.

Perhaps they should not be permitted to vote? Or, maybe people who want to see the human race survive our current problems should be given more votes? Just asking questions, (to paraphrase Tucker Carlson.)

[jaxexpat]

31. Sorry folks, but the Clark County Sheriff's Office has this swept waaaay up under the rug already.

[Kid Berwyn]

32. Bet he's not alone in hating Democrats and liberals and such.

Lieutenant Rodgers thought he was gonna a thumbs-up from Captain Red and Chief Redder.

After the truth, NAZIs hate democracy more than anything.

[Omaha Steve]

33. A good guy with a gun on medication

What could go wrong???

[City Lights]

34. Apology not accepted.

He needs to lose his job.

[RobertDevereaux]

35. This is a firing offense, SO FIRE HIM.

[Owl]

36. Absolutely!

[bluestarone]

37. If he's not fired, then

THAT, in it's self tells us where there is a larger problem!!

[republianmushroom]

38. Fire these LE assholes.

[Zilli]

39. For this law enforcement officer, and many others, this the the way of things now in maga hate world.

It is going to take at least 50 years to wash the contempt, disdain and demonization of WE THE PEOPLE out of our political and legal atmosphere.

[Martin68]

40. Frightened by the legal consequences of his deplorable statement. Blames it on "medication."

Perhaps the sleeping medication lowered his inhibitions and the truth came out in public. Oops.

[TBF]

41. So, he still hasn't been fired? nt

[Beartracks]

42. Post deleted or not, it's likely he still FEELS that way about people, which makes him unfit to serve.

If you can't serve everyone equally, GTFO of public service.

==================

[JoseBalow]

44. But he has a doctor's note!

It's not because he's a MAGA scumbag pig

[twodogsbarking]

45. Anyone trust him?

Anyone?

[Borchkins]

46. Medication . . . right.

Seems like he needs an unpaid leave.

[Woodwizard]

47. Positions of authority

Really attract a lot of shitty not so bright people.