Ohio sheriff's lieutenant who said he “won't help Democrats” apologizes, blames medication

An Ohio sheriff's patrol commander who said on Facebook that he would not help Democrats and would require proof of who a person voted for before providing them assistance has apologized and prescribed sleeping pills for his “out of character” behavior held responsible.

Lt. John Rodgers, a 20-year veteran sheriff in Clark County, where Springfield is the county seat, made the statement in several posts on Facebook, CBS affiliate WHIO-TV reported. He reportedly wrote in one post: “I’m sorry. If you support the Democratic Party, I won't help you.” Another said, “The problem is, I know which of you supports the Democratic Party, and I won't help you survive the end of days.”

Another post noted that people would have to “prove who they voted for” if they asked Rodgers for help, the station reported.

The sheriff's office said Rodgers, who commanded the department's road patrol, will remain on duty and will receive a written reprimand for violating the department's social media policy.

“I know I can't apologize enough, and my apologies may seem empty, but I will apologize for as long as it takes,” Rodgers said in the statement, obtained by WHIO-TV. “I know it will be difficult for the public to trust me, but I will do everything in my power to restore 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.” I want to assure the citizens of our community that I treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of our differences, and will strive to do so show that I can do better.

Clark County has been in the spotlight since Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stepped up false claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield ate people's dogs and cats.

A sheriff's statement said the posts did not reflect the office's mission and values.

“It is understood that while these comments are highly inappropriate, they in no way reflect the Clark County Sheriff's Office's service to ALL of our community,” the statement said. “The community has the right to decide the actions of Lt. Rodgers is upset, and he and the Sheriff’s Office in general will have to work even harder to restore the trust of members of our community.”

Rodgers responded formally to the reprimand, writing in a letter in his personnel file that he did not remember writing or deleting the posts, and it was brought to his attention when a colleague asked if he was OK, Springfield News reported -Sun. Rodgers wrote that he didn't find her on his page when he searched and that he first saw her in a meeting with a department official.

Rodgers said he sometimes takes a prescribed sleep medication, which can cause him to send “uncharacteristic” text messages, phone calls or other forms of communication as a side effect. The lieutenant said as soon as he learned of the news Tuesday, he deactivated his Facebook account and stopped taking the medication, the newspaper reported.

“We have been in this fight for the last few months, with the attacks on the Haitian community and other immigrants, and we protect people's rights and we do not support any behavior to the contrary,” Mike Young, the county's top deputy, told the newspaper . “I can’t go back in time and take away this position; the lieutenant took over the post and he received consequences for it.”

Clark isn't the only Ohio county dealing with controversial statements from law enforcement officials on social media.

The U.S. Department of Justice said its election surveillance efforts would also include Portage County, where a sheriff was accused last month of voter intimidation to ensure the county complied with state voting rights laws during early voting and beyond election day.

The department's announcement came after Republican Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski posted on social media that people with Kamala Harris signs should have their addresses written down so immigrants can be sent to them if the Democrat wins the presidency.