NAACP president calls for sheriff’s lieutenant to be placed on leave after political posts

CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Unit of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President calls for a sheriff’s office lieutenant who made controversial social media posts to be placed on leave.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, Clark County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant John Rodgers posted the messages to his personal Facebook account.

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One post said, “I am sorry if you support the Democratic Party, I will not help you.”

In another post, Rodgers said he would find out, “Which of you supports the Democratic Party and I will not help you survive the end of days.”

Rodgers is the supervisor of the sheriff’s office road patrol division.

News Center 7 asked Rodgers to sit down with reporter Mike Campbell, but he declined and sent out a long apology and explanation for what he called “out of character posts.”

Clark County Unit of the NAACP President Denise Williams said Rodgers shouldn’t be on the job anymore.

“This hit the community hard,” Williams said.

According to Williams, the community is on edge as it’s been mentioned in a negative light throughout the presidential race.

“After everything that we have been through, we’re still going through, and we’re going to receive this kind of rhetoric?” Williams said.

Williams said these posts are out of line from both a political and racial standpoint.

Rodgers declined an interview with News Center 7 but said he doesn’t remember making, or deleting the posts.

He blamed it on the documented side effects of a prescribed sleep medication.

“I reached out to the Clark County commissioners, community partners and the NAACP to make arrangements to have face-to-face conversations so I could explain myself, take ownership of the posts and express my sincerest apologies,” Rodgers said in a statement.

Williams said she had a conversation with Rodgers on Monday.

“He’s very sorry, He’s embarrassed,” Williams said.

She believes Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett should take more disciplinary action.

“I’m disappointed in the statements made by Lt. John Rodgers and I don’t condone them, I won’t make excuses. I have heard Lt. Rodgers explanations and I’m not happy with them. He has given this Department a black eye and all other deputies a cloud of suspicion to operate under. We are determined to serve all members of our community, regardless of race, party affiliation or any other factor. My department, and many deputies, have received numerous threatening e-mails and questions about why Lt. Rodgers has not been fired. Lt. Rodgers was disciplined but I must point out that all members of the Sheriff’s department at the rank of Lieutenant and below have union protections that regulate all job procedures, policies and discipline,”

—  Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett told News Center 7

Williams said she called for Rodgers to be placed on medical leave.

News Center 7 learned that Rodgers received a written reprimand but it’s not clear if any further action could be taken.

Williams believes a leave protects Rodgers, and the community, while his medical issues are worked out.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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