Columbus County commissioners vote to appoint Bill Rogers as sheriff

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - The Columbus County Board of Commissioners has voted to appoint Bill Rogers as sheriff with a 6-1 vote. Brent Watts was the only commissioner to vote against the motion.

A former member of the NC State Highway Patrol, Rogers served in the position after Jody Greene’s suspension in October of 2022. Rogers was sworn in shortly after he was appointed.

Rogers said he plans to have an ‘open door policy’ as he takes over as the long-term sheriff.

“I just want to get everybody back together because that’s going to be the key to getting the community and the whole county united back together for us and our families, our schools. We just need everybody back on the same page,” he told WECT Thursday.

County NAACP president Curtis Hill says he wanted to see commissioners do a more extensive interview process before making a decision, but he looks forward to working with Rogers going forward.

“We’re working to try and heal the community, and all of us working together. Everybody working together to try to make the best out of this situation,” Hill said.

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners announced an emergency meeting for Thursday, Jan. 5 to appoint a new sheriff following the resignation of Jody Greene.

The meeting began at 5 p.m. and was livestreamed to the public via YouTube.

Kevin Norris, who served as chief deputy, is currently acting as the sheriff of Columbus County in the wake of Greene’s resignation. Though Greene is no longer sheriff, District Attorney Jon Davis says the criminal investigation into his actions will continue regardless.

Jody Greene released the following statement on his personal Facebook:

“There comes a time in life that you have to choose happiness over something that you know will be nothing but a constant battle. Yesterday I resigned as your sheriff. In 2018, when I was first elected I made promises and I kept those promises! I ran for reelection and you the people voted for me and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart! A lot of changes have been made under my administration and I hope that they will be an asset to the citizens of Columbus County and the CCSO. I am thankful for the last 4 years! Thank you all for the words of encouragement and mostly your prayers! I plan to enjoy my family and retirement.”

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