Senatobia police chief dismissed after allegations of racist texts and fatal toddler shooting

The board of aldermen in Senatobia, Mississippi, voted unanimously on Tuesday to terminate Police Chief Harold Vanderford, rejecting his resignation submitted the same day. The decision follows investigative reports that Vanderford exchanged racist slurs in private text messages with a colleague.

The firing occurs as the city continues to grapple with the June 14 shooting in which a police officer fired into a vehicle during a shoplifting investigation at a Walmart, killing 1-year-old Kohan Wiley and wounding a woman driver. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave while the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation reviews the incident.

Alderman Demetrius Garrett said the board must protect the department’s integrity and public trust, emphasizing that unity does not mean ignoring serious issues. Alderman Chris McConnell called for an independent investigation into departmental leadership, culture, complaint handling, and financial practices, stating that citizens deserve a police force they can trust.

National civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wiley family, called the chief’s dismissal “the right decision” and urged the release of body-camera footage. The police department declined to comment, and Vanderford could not be reached for comment.

Vanderford, appointed chief in September 2025 after the board dismissed former chief Richard Chandler, inherited a department already under scrutiny for prior incidents involving Black residents. Community activist Patrick Lumumba noted that removing Chandler had not eliminated a culture of racism, and he highlighted the newly formed Senatobia Committee for Accountability and Transparency’s demand for answers. Lieutenant Angelica Maze has been named interim chief.