**Ohio Sheriff's Lieutenant Sparks Controversy with Social Media Posts**

A seasoned lieutenant from the Clark County sheriff's office in Ohio has stirred controversy with recent social media statements. Lt. John Rodgers, who has served the department for 20 years, posted on Facebook that he would not offer assistance to individuals who support Vice President Kamala Harris or identify as Democrats, igniting public outrage according to WHIO-TV.

Rodgers made it clear in his posts that he would refuse to aid people he knew supported the Democratic Party. "I am sorry. If you support the Democrat Party I will not help you," Rodgers wrote, even going so far as to say that constituents would need to prove their political allegiance to receive assistance. The sentiment that's resulted has led to a further erosion of public trust in local institutions.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office was quick to distance itself from Rodgers' comments, emphasizing that his views do not align with their mission to serve the entire community. An official statement from the department noted, "It is understood that while these comments are highly inappropriate, they in no means reflect the Clark County Sheriff's Office delivery of service to ALL our community and does not reflect the mission and values of the Sheriff's Office." The office acknowledged the community's right to be upset and stressed the need to rebuild trust.

WHIO reported that Rodgers attributed his "out of character" behavior to side effects from prescribed sleep aids. Despite the explanation, the sheriff's office has issued Rodgers a written reprimand for violating their social media policy but confirmed that he will remain on duty.

The incident has left a significant impact on public confidence in local law enforcement, highlighting the importance of professionalism and impartiality in police work. The sheriff's office has pledged to work harder to gain back the community's trust in the wake of this incident.