A sheriff’s deputy in Ohio is facing backlash following a series of controversial posts on social media in which he expressed his refusal to assist supporters of the Democratic Party, alongside inflammatory comments about Vice President Kamala Harris. John Rodgers, a Lieutenant at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, posted several messages on his personal Facebook account that garnered public outrage. Rodgers, a 20-year veteran with nearly 30 years of combined law enforcement experience, was serving as the Uniform Patrol Commander in 2023 when the posts were made.
The posts, published in October 2024, caused an uproar due to their direct attacks on Democrats and their leaders. One of the posts read, “If you support the Democrat Party I will not help you.” Another post elaborated, stating, “The problem is that I know which of you supports the Democratic Party and I will not help you survive the end of days.” A third post took a more ambiguous tone, suggesting that people seeking help from Rodgers would need to prove their political affiliation before receiving assistance. It stated, “At the end of the day I will require you to provide proof of who you voted for if you ask me for help. Weapons and ammo are not cheap.”
Perhaps the most disturbing post was one in which Rodgers compared Vice President Kamala Harris to a biblical figure, calling her “Satan.” The inflammatory nature of these posts led to widespread media coverage, and the remarks quickly spread on social media, with some reports estimating that the posts were shared over a quarter of a million times. This generated significant public outcry, particularly from members of the community who felt the comments were divisive and inappropriate for someone in a law enforcement role.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded swiftly to the controversy. Chief Deputy Mike Young issued a statement clarifying that while the comments were “highly inappropriate,” they did not reflect the values or mission of the Sheriff’s Office. He emphasized that the community had a right to be upset over Rodgers’ actions, and both Rodgers and the Sheriff’s Office would need to work hard to regain the public’s trust.
In an attempt to address the backlash, Rodgers issued an apology, taking full responsibility for the posts and explaining that they were made under unusual circumstances. According to Rodgers, he had been prescribed medication to help him sleep, and one of the known side effects of the medication was sleepwalking behavior, which included performing actions while still asleep. He described a pattern of unconscious activities such as texting, making phone calls, walking around his house, eating food from the refrigerator, and posting on social media. Rodgers explained that he had no memory of writing or deleting the posts and that the medication had caused his behavior to be “out of character.” He expressed deep regret and vowed to do everything in his power to rebuild the trust of the community he served.
Rodgers’ apology included a heartfelt admission of his failure to control his actions while under the influence of the medication. He acknowledged the harm that his posts had caused and apologized sincerely for his words. However, he also emphasized his commitment to treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of political affiliation, and promised to strive to be better in the future.
This incident is not isolated in the context of Clark County. The area has recently been the subject of controversy surrounding baseless and inflammatory claims made by high-profile figures in the political sphere. Over the summer, former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, made unverified accusations about Haitian immigrants allegedly “eating the cats” of Springfield residents, further stoking tensions within the community. Chief Deputy Young noted that these types of divisive narratives had contributed to an ongoing battle over immigrant rights and the protection of all community members. The public fallout from these allegations was still fresh when Rodgers’ posts added to the tension, making it a challenging time for the Sheriff’s Office.
In response to the controversy, Rodgers received a written reprimand for his actions, which was reported by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The reprimand was seen as a measure to hold the deputy accountable for his inappropriate behavior, but it did little to quell the public’s anger. Many questioned whether Rodgers was fit to serve as a law enforcement officer, given his openly partisan views and the nature of his social media posts.
The controversy surrounding Rodgers underscores a broader issue of how law enforcement officers, particularly those in leadership roles, should conduct themselves on social media. While individuals are entitled to their personal beliefs, the public expects law enforcement officers to serve all members of the community, regardless of political affiliation.
