This county’s not big enough for the two of them – that is, for Democratic Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and Republican Phil Byrd, who’s trying very hard to take that job away from Rogers.
In reality, Guilford County, with 646 square miles of territory, is big enough to house both men peaceably – however, Byrd wants to see Rogers voted out of the high sheriff’s office in downtown Greensboro.
Byrd told the Rhino Times this week that the department, under Rogers, has a major morale problem and he added that one clear indication of that is the persistent number of vacancies the department perpetually cannot fill under Rogers no matter what.
The county has raised pay, offered signing bonuses, increased benefits and offered other perks for Sheriff’s Department jobs, but Byrd said that Rogers’ practices and demeanor have been driving good officers away and keeping others from applying – especially detention officers.
Byrd said Rogers created much of the problem for himself from the first day he became Guilford County sheriff nearly four years ago. At that time, Rogers – in a story that made state and even national news – immediately fired more than two dozen well-respected officers out of fear that they were too loyal to former Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes.
According to Byrd, Rogers was never qualified for the job and it was a shocker when he won. He said Rogers then found himself in over his head.
“I never thought he would be in this position,” Byrd said. “I don’t think Danny has a plan.”
He compared Rogers’ running of the department to “ping pong” – where things bounce back and forth but never really move forward in any one direction.
“I really don’t see any accomplishments he has brought,” Byrd said,
He also said Roger’s fascination with cowboy hats and flashy suits hasn’t inspired confidence in anyone.
Byrd said that he also, like many people, thought it was a major mistake roughly three years ago when Rogers fired a very well-respected upper-level detention employee –without, Byrd and others claim, any justification.
He said that truly hurt morale among jail staff.
According to Byrd, if he’s elected sheriff he’ll bring some real direction to the department and work with County Manager Mike Halford to make moves that quickly raise morale. He added that, “based on a straw poll” he’d conducted with department employees, they would be much more likely to stay with the department if Rogers wasn’t the head of it anymore.
Byrd said he, on the other hand, has a solid plan to shore up employee retention and to help repair some of the damage Rogers has done in his four years at the helm. He said he knows the department inside and out since he’s commanded the department’s Personnel and Training Division, Internal Affairs Division, School Resource Officers Division and the Field Operations Division.
Byrd has also been a detention officer, patrol officer, narcotics officer and a criminal investigator.
He said his 30 years of widespread experience with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is a stark contrast to Rogers’ law enforcement past.
“The Sheriff’s Office,” Byrd said, needs “responsible leadership”
Byrd states in his campaign literature: “What I will promise is to work steadfast on a professional law enforcement organization with men and women eager and ambitious to make a difference in the quality of lives of our citizens and to provide quality unbiased service to its communities. Restoring Morale will create a more productive Sheriff’s Office.”
We need Byrd. Rodgers is a twice fired domestic abuser who has no business playing law enforcement.
He has my vote.
I hope you win this election Mr. Byrd.
There are some who read this and will say my statement is sour grapes, because after 24 years of service to Guilford County as Sheriff, 10 years as a deputy I lost an election to Danny Rogers. Nothing could be further from the truth. My concern for the sheriffs office, the people who serve there and the people of Guilford County is based on a love for the people of this county and the people at the sheriffs office.
To set the record straight, Rogers did not beat me, the democrat machine and a get out the vote effort did. Millions were spent on a get out the vote effort to get Kathy Manning elected and Rogers was the beneficiary of it. The problem with a get out the vote effort is that the effort involves uninformed voters making the decision not for the best candidate, but historically for candidates who they are told to vote for by leaders who reap the benefits on their back and votes. Rogers benefited from the group think mentality because just voting for every one in a particular party is easier This has been going on for decades, are the ones voting this way any better off, only they can answer that, but the one’s I have talked with say they are not. Doing the same thing over and over hoping for a different outcome and getting none, is the definition of insanity.
Rogers has taken a well respected award winning sheriffs office and systematically attempted to destroy and dismantle it. Other than spending money on a un-needed badge and decal change, cowboy hats and circus clown outfits, wasting money and getting rid of programs other agencies are proud to have, like Rapid DNA, taking credit for programs he had nothing to do with. He touts having the sheriffs office accredited. A program very few law enforcement agency try to obtain because it is not cost effective and is really given after you get thru paying the invoice by a for profit business. Phil Byrd is right, Rogers and his decisions are the problem. He got rid of people who were qualified and were demonstrating ability by providing a sheriffs office without a hint of scandal and realizing a 66% reduction in crime. He replaced proven leadership promoted based on ability and merit and replaced them with folks promoted based on color and friendship. He replaced and promoted to the highest ranks in the sheriffs office people who had never progressed past the level of sergeant when they were judged on ability. Even the person he brought in as chief deputy quit after seeing the lack of ability and leadership Rogers had after a few short weeks.
Rogers was elected because many did not know of his criminal history, including arrest for domestic violence. They did not know about his civil judgements for not paying his bills, failure to pay business and personal debts including tax liens. They did not know he was forced out of his job as a High Point Police officer and fired from the Guilford Co. Sheriffs office. Why didn’t they know, because the media did not make it known like they would if it had been anyone else.
The only way to combat busload voting that drives our local government is to get out and vote for the person and get away from the group think mentality. It will take us all to make that happen. Let’s start with voting a new sheriff in. One that is a professional, who knows how o lead, who can bring us a sheriffs office we can once again be proud of. Vote or Phil Byrd and while you are at it, vote for Alan Branson, another leader who cares about this county and you.
Right on Sheriff Barnes.
BJ hit the nail square on its head! In this time of government corruption and favoritism, it’s time for a real, trained, experienced, professional, law enforcement candidate to be elected as Sheriff of Guilford County! As Guilford County residence, we deserve the best candidate for the job! Just ask yourself this one question….Do I feel that I must go to sleep each night in my own home with a 9mm handgun on my night stand next to my bed just to be ready for a break in, not knowing that there are enough law enforcement officers to answer my 911 call. My vote is for Phil Byrd as Sheriff and I proudly display his sign in my yard!
All due respect to you, you should sit this one out. You had to start your statement with the exact reason that no one that is undecided will listen.
There is one way to end Rogers’ term. Show how he left a prostitute in his car who then stole the car and then he visited her in her cell to “pray with her.”
If this one instance is not enough to end his term, nothing else will.
BJ
Not sour grapes but spot on. Our country is being destroyed and when it collapses they will be looking to taxpayers to bail
them out. Please get out and vote. BJ thank you for your service and excellence.
Boo hoo you big baby. And your rant does sound like sour grapes!
Both of these clowns are too conservative for the job. We need to immediately stop the enforcement of all marijuana arrests, we need to get rid of white supremacy in the department and we need to make the personnel record of every deputy on staff public so the civilians can see that we don’t have any abusive, racist or corrupt cops on the force but of course that will never happen because dirty cops always like to sweep their corruption under the rug
So you say… start with Rogers and his Angel’s. Promoted unqualified black females about anyone else white or blk. You don’t belive ask him. None of which even sat for the test. Wait til they make a poor judgment call and someone gets hurt. Can you say law suit. I call you out. Go to Rogers and ask him. And just cause you play the victim doesn’t mean your without out sin.
Guess you were one of his Residents in the Rogers Residential Hall suit 7 David.
Awesome article
Take heed all Guilford County Citizens
Time to elect a law abiding, Christian person who understands the law and how to run all parts of the Guilford County Sheriff Department.
Let’s save what few deputies/dentition officers we have left in the Dept and build their morale and show them that someone does care about them and will have their back.
Let’s ALL help elect Phil Byrd in the election to become our next Sheriff!!
What if you don’t believe in invisible man in the sky or don’t believe in that same invisible Man In The sky?
Here’s a wacky idea let’s not arrest so damn many people for things like drugs or other non-violent victim of crimes that way we won’t need so many tools of government oppression riding around masquerading as some kind of hero.
Anybody with an oz of common sense should vote for Mr Byrd. After Rogers was elected , it took about 4 clicks on Google to get all the info I needed for his background which is little to none. How he got elected is a mystery!!?? We need to get rid of Rogers, his cowboy hats and his ourlandish muticolored vests which brings a cartoonish element to our Sheriff Dept. Vote Byrd to get Guilford county back on the correct track.
You have my vote. I believe most people know what got Rogers the job. If any smart voters are left….vote him out.
Phil Byrd will be great. He and his wife are great people. They have been working hard, putting out signs at 2:00 in the morning. Guilford County would be lucky to get Phil Byrd as our Sheriff. Ask him a question about the Sheriff Department, you will see how much he knows. He has common sense and is not afraid to work. His wife will be a great supporter. She is always side by side working and helping him with whatever. Phil Byrd will be an amazing Sheriff. If you care about Guilford County, vote Phil Byrd!!
It’s nice that Phil Byrd is running a campaign against Danny Rogers. He’s stating the problem issues with the current Sheriff’s Department in Guilford County and how he will work to improve the morale and staffing issues that so badly need to be solved. Unlike the last election where the previous sitting Sheriff failed to mention the shortcomings of Rogers, Byrd is telling people why Rogers is not fit to be Sheriff. No one with a past criminal record and the type of shortcomings that he has should be in charge of a law enforcement department that requires one to be organized, oversee personnel, or be responsible for handling taxpayer money. We need someone who is experienced in law enforcement, in working with County government, and who is honest and passionate about the people he works with and serves. Phil Byrd is that person.
Awww the hope is cute
You know something Danny Rogers is going to win. I’m a republican and I’m proud to vote for sheriff Rogers I think he has done a fantastic job since being elected.
You’re definitely smoking something…
Please provide 1 example of something “fantastic” he has done…