On Wednesday, March 13, former Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes forcefully and categorically denied claims that he and/or his staff inappropriately destroyed documents or removed computers from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department’s offices or conducted other offenses that Sheriff Danny Rogers claimed were done as part of an effort to sabotage his transition.
Barnes was reacting to statements Rogers made the night before on the evening of Tuesday, March 12 to the Summerfield Town Council – a council that Barnes’ wife Dena serves on.
On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Department announced that there was an investigation being conducted on the matter.
At the Summerfield Town Council meeting, Rogers stated: “We came in and didn’t have any way to start other than start from ground zero. What do I mean – ground zero? Papers were destroyed. Computers were taken out. So we had nothing; we had no information, nowhere to start.”
On Wednesday, March 13, Rogers, in a written statement from the Sheriff’s Department, reiterated what he had said the night before. The release from the department stated that Rogers stands by the statements he made and also that the department does not want to comment on the situation at this time because there is an ongoing investigation into the matter.
That statement did not say whether the investigation was being conducted by the Sheriff’s Department or if some outside agency was called in.
The statement reads, “With respect to Sheriff Rogers’ statements at the Summerfield Town Council meeting regarding records last evening, the Sheriff stands behind what he has said—that upon assuming the Office of Sheriff in early December 2018, he and some senior staff members discovered that certain paper and electronic records pertaining to the business of the Sheriff’s Office had been either removed or destroyed and that this made the transition into the Office more difficult. Further investigation into those matters is ongoing and pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 132-1.4(a) and 153A-98(a) and (c), it would be inappropriate to release additional information at this time.”
Barnes said that Rogers’ statement regarding the destruction of documents and removal of computers was “a lie” and he said it was one of several that Rogers told that night.
“The only things I took out of there were personal items,” Barnes said.
He said that no departmental records or documents or computers were removed. He also said that, if Rogers had actually bothered to check before making his false claims, he would know that. The former sheriff also said that he wasn’t going to let the accusation stand and said Roger’s was clearly trying now to go after his reputation.
“In my office, the couch and the computer belong to the county and that was left,” Barnes said. “There was an antique table that had been loaned to me by a friend of mine and that was returned. That was the extent of what was taken out of that office.”
He added, “What computers is he talking about? Tell us which ones.”
Barnes said that, as for documents, nothing inappropriate was removed. He said that he did have some personal papers in his office that listed things such as his financial records and similar items that he didn’t leave.
He also said there were Top Secret federal government documents that he was not legally allowed to turn over to Rogers or any of his staff.
“I have Top Secret clearance,” Barnes said. “He does not have a Top Secret clearance – nor could he get one given his past.”
Barnes said that, after coming into office, Rogers instructed staff to go through some computers and told them to find anything they could incriminating on Barnes. Barnes said there was nothing to hide.
He said Rogers was now reaching a new low.
“If someone lies about something that they can check out,” Barnes said, “and continues to lie about it, then either they are a liar or a fool and, in his case, he is both – and you can quote me on that.”
Barnes said that once an investigation was conducted and Roger’s malicious claims were shown to be baseless, Rogers can expect to hear back from him.
“I am sick and tired of this,” Barnes said, “and I am not going to let it go. He picked the wrong person this time.”
Rogers was asked by the current mayor of Summerfield to speak at the monthly town council meeting. About what and why is the question? Is the mayor worried about the rumors of BJ possible running against her so she asked Rogers to speak badly about BJ? Nevertheless he did nothing for her or to better himself. This mayor and her minions want to tear down everything. They can’t tell you what they want only what they don’t want.
Sheriff Rogers has had and continues to have a rough transition because;
a) he backed out on the scheduled meeting he had with Barnes’ Chief Warrant Officer (easy enough to verify with FOIA request of emails after the election) and he didn’t bring anyone with management experience into his administration.
b) he (or his proxy C. Netter) fired the administrative employees (who were not political) who handled the day to day work that is necessary for a large agency and replaced them with inept employees who had no idea what needed to be done (easy to verify).
C) he took absolutely 0 input from the senior staff that stayed (and still hasn’t). He has also threatened the jobs of senior staff during each meeting with them since. This created a “yes man” atmosphere in which no one can tell him the truth.
D) he has no idea what he is doing. He was hardly a cop when he was (fired at both agencies), he has never really supervised anyone because he had no “real” jobs, and he doesn’t have enough character to realize that the buck stops with him (lesson one in any credible supervision class).
It’s not going to get better because he is too arrogant to realize the mess he has made and take the steps necessary to fix it (if he even knows).
What is Barnes sick and tired of? He seems to think he can belittle the Sheriff every chance he gets, but when Rogers makes a factual statement he doesn’t agree with he wants to sling more mud. I don’t know what was in all those cabinets and boxes that Barnes had one or two ladies shredding for three weeks straight after the election but many passed by and saw it as it was happening. I don’t know what went on all of those thumb drives that the purchasing manager was instructed to order several cases of right after the election but there were only a handful of new ones remaining in those cases when Rogers arrived. I’m not saying Barnes did anything unscrupulous, I am saying these things did in fact happen. It could have all been trash that was shredded for all I know. It would have gone over a lot better and looked less suspect if everything were left behind untouched and the incoming Sheriff could decide what to throw out.
It is well past time to stop making comments about Roger’s background. He was eligible to be elected and did so. He has far fewer marks in his past than you let on and far fewer than many folks that were hired by and promoted by Barnes. You can quote me on that!
Gotta go, Aunt Esther has dinner ready.
BJ- what did you do with the government records? Did you return them as required by law or destroy them which is a felony?
Why is Rogers lying!! I know first hand that Rogers is being untruthful! I was there under the old and the new administration! I supported you Rogers but you’re quickly becoming an embarrassment!
BJ- what did you do with the “Top Secret “ government documents after you left office? Did you return them to the proper government agency’s before you left office as required by law,? Keep them in a safe place? Destroy them?
What did this clown expect to find when he took office? A book called “How to be the Sheriff 101.” Someone get this guy some crayons and coloring book and spell it out for him. Being sheriff requires someone to actually know what’s going on and at least a modicum of experience in law enforcement administration. This guy, who worked for a few years in the jail 30 years ago, has no clue and continues to prove it day in and day out.
I am confused about why he is making a big deal about missing paper work. I might be wrong but didn’t Rogers hire a certain someone who was fired by BJ for taking personnel records of other staff. The theft of documents was admitted when she sued the county, if I am right that case was tossed out