Ohio sheriff’s lieutenant who said he wouldn’t help Democrats apologizes

John Rogers, a lieutenant with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in Springfield, wrote on Facebook that he would not help Democrats. He has since apologized and blamed the publications on drugs.

Sheriff’s Office Springfield, Ohio is facing backlash after a lieutenant said on Facebook he would not help Democrats.

Lieutenant John Rogers A Clark County Sheriff’s Office spokesman recently posted on Facebook that he needed proof of who someone voted for before helping them, according to Springfield News-Sun.

“I’m really sorry. If you support the Democratic Party, I will not help you,” read one of Rogers’ deleted posts, according to a local channel. VIO-TV. Another message said: “The problem is I know which of you support the Democratic Party and I will not help you survive the end of days.”

Rogers has since deleted his Facebook account and apologized for his comments.

The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment Monday.

Rogers blames sleeping pills for ‘out of character’ statement

Rogers told the Springfield News-Sun he takes medication to help him sleep, which causes him to make “out of character” phone calls, text messages and statements.

An internal investigation revealed that he insisted his comment was a “documented side effect” of the sleeping pills he was prescribed, WHIO-TV reported.

“I do not remember writing these messages or deleting any messages,” Rogers wrote to executives, according to the station.

Rogers apologized to the Clark County community, his co-workers and his family. He also promised to stop taking sleeping pills.

“I know I cannot apologize enough and my apology may seem empty, but I will continue to apologize as long as necessary,” Rogers wrote in the letter, which was shared with WHIO-TV. “I know it will be difficult for the public to trust me, but I will do everything in my power to start rebuilding that trust. I apologize from the bottom of my heart and want to ensure that I will always serve our community to the best of my ability. my abilities and strive to achieve more. I want to assure the citizens of our community that I have always treated everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of our differences, and will strive to show them that I can do better.”

The sheriff’s office called Roger’s posts “highly inappropriate.”

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office called Rogers’ posts “highly inappropriate,” WHIO-TV reported, and said they did not reflect “providing services to ALL of our community and do not reflect the mission and values of the Sheriff’s Office.” “

“The community has a right to be upset by Lt. Rogers’ actions, and he, and the sheriff’s office as a whole, will have to work even harder to restore the trust of our community members,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday. statement sent to WHIO-TV.

The sheriff’s office is located in Springfield, Ohio and has received national attention since former President Donald Trump made unsubstantiated claims that Haitian migrants in the city steal and eat pets during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

In an interview with News Nation last month, Trump said he would deport Haitian migrants to Springfield who have legal residence if elected.

“Springfield is such a beautiful place. Did you see what happened to him? It was overrun. You can’t treat people like that. They need to be removed,” Trump told the publication.

Springfield officials refuted the image cities.

Sheriff asks residents to ‘write down’ addresses of Harris supporters in September

Rogers’ comments come two months after an Ohio County sheriff took to social media to apparently solicit the addresses of homes with front yard signs supporting Harris.

In a Sept. 13 Facebook post, Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski outlined what he would do if Harris beat Trump in presidential elections.

“When people ask me… What happens if the flopping laughing hyena wins?? I say…write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards,” Zuchowski wrote in a Facebook post. . “Oooh… when the illegal human “Locust” (whom she supports!) needs housing… We will already have the addresses of their New Families… who supported their arrival!”

Bye ZhukhovskyWhile the Republican, who is seeking re-election Tuesday, made no explicit threats in his post, some residents expressed concern that the sheriff listed addresses based on political beliefs.

“This type of doxxing, sanctioned by an armed individual with a badge, is simply frightening,” Kent resident Bob Springer wrote in a September complaint he filed with the federal Justice Department.

Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY and Amanda Garrett, Akron Beacon Journal