Ohio sheriff warns against violence towards officers: ‘You shoot at the police, expect us to shoot back’

BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — An Ohio sheriff is warning people that if they are thinking about coming to his county to “abuse police,” they should “think again.”

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said in a press release Wednesday that he has “seen the lawlessness in the country over the last few months,” claiming much of it is “directed towards police.”

The sheriff cited incidents of water being dumped on police in New York, bricks and frozen water bottles being thrown at police as well as officers blinded by lasers in Portland, Oregon.

“In addition, police have been shot at in Chicago and all across the country,” Jones said in the release.

“I won’t tolerate it, period. You shoot at the police expect us to shoot back,” Jones said. “I will not allow my deputies or any law enforcement officer in Butler County to take the abuse I have seen over the past several months. If you come to this county expecting a free pass to harm one of my men or women in uniform keep in mind, nothing in life is free.”