Retired Trooper Named Interim Sheriff

Bill Rogers (NCSHP trooper)
Bill Rogers (NCSHP photo)

Retired Highway Patrol Trooper William “Bill” Rogers has been named interim sheriff.

The Evergreen resident will serve until the Sheriff Jody Greene is reinstated, or the winner of the election is sworn into office Nov. 30.

Rogers retired from the Patrol Sept. 30. He was sworn in as a trooper in February 2001, and retired as Master Trooper with Troop B, District 5. He and his wife Abby live in Evergreen. He is registered unaffiliated, according to state voter records.

County commissioners appointed Rogers at a special called meeting today (Wednesday). Commissioner Giles Byrd made the motion to appoint Rogers, with a second by Chris Smith.

Greene was suspended after District Attorney Jon David on Tuesday submitted a petition to the court accusing Greene of maladministration, corruption and racial profiling, in violation of state general statutes. A hearing has been set for Oct. 24. David sent Greene a letter officially requesting his resignation on Monday.

The allegations came about after Jason Soles, a Democrat challenging Greene for the sheriff’s post, released recordings of Greene making racial and vulgar remarks about CCSO employees. Greene has questioned the authenticity of the recordings, which Soles made of a private conversation in 2019. At the time, Soles was interim sheriff while the courts determined if Greene was eligible to serve as sheriff based on residency questions.

Greene has repeatedly questioned the authenticity of the recordings.

About Jefferson Weaver 1976 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at [email protected].