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Residents urge better jail medical care and question manager contract; county manager disputes claims
Summary
Two residents used public comment to press the board on Rockingham County Jail medical care, opioid withdrawal treatment and staffing; another questioned a contract amendment for the county manager. The manager responded that some reports are misinformation and clarified the scope of the employment agreement.
During public comment at the April 6 Rockingham County commissioners meeting, residents urged the board to address inmate health care and county transparency, and raised concerns about the county manager’s employment agreement.
Daryl Thornton identified himself as a Rockingham County resident and said he was speaking on behalf of inmates and detention officers. "When someone enters the jail physically dependent on opioids, withdrawal can become life threatening if it isn't properly treated," Thornton said, and asked why the jail’s medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) program was not being used consistently. Thornton also said the facility is about 25% understaffed and described training shortfalls; he said an officer he named (his son‑in‑law) had been charged by the SBI and alleged that the officer had not received proper training before full duty.
James Herring, another resident, said he opposed a contract amendment that was on the consent agenda and asserted it would create a five‑year payout to the county manager upon dismissal. "That means that he could go out tonight theoretically, shoot somebody, be convicted and we the taxpayers in Rockingham County would be paying him his salary for 5 years," Herring said.
The county manager responded directly during the meeting, disputing the suggestions about automatic payouts and saying the board could remove him "without me having any payouts." He told the board and public he would seek other employment if terminated and said he would not "soak Rockingham County as citizens." He described the board’s longstanding practice of employment agreements and said the new amendment mainly adds limited authority to enter certain agreements to recruit and retain staff.
Chair and other commissioners noted that consent agenda items are approved by the majority and clarified process questions. Thornton offered to submit his written remarks to county staff at the meeting.
The board did not take immediate formal action on the substance of Thornton’s jail‑care claims during the meeting; Thornton’s comments were received as public comment and the manager’s remarks served as an on‑record response to public concerns.
