Police Chief Fired
Senatobia Police Chief Fired Over Racist Texts Amid Growing Community Scrutiny
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Key Points
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The Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to terminate Vanderford after an executive session and did not acknowledge his resignation, even though it had already been submitted on the agenda as an action related to acknowledgment rather than acceptance.
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Vanderford had been appointed chief in October 2025, making him the second Senatobia police chief to depart the position in roughly 14 months.
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Lt. Angelia Maze was named interim chief to lead the department while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
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Mississippi Today and other outlets detailed that Vanderford’s private text messages included multiple racist slurs in at least 10 conversations dating back to last summer; five acquaintances confirmed the exchanges, including references to a 'racist moment' and explicit language such as comments about beating a Black man with a white woman’s ass.
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Civil rights attorney Ben Crump backed the family’s call for transparency, urging the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to release video of Kohen Wiley’s death and to complete the investigation, including the Sgt. Foster matter.
Senatobia, Mississippi's police chief Harold Vanderford was fired after private text messages surfaced showing he repeatedly used racial slurs, including the N-word. FOX 10 Phoenix reported the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to terminate him, rejecting his resignation and appointing Lt. Angelia Maze as interim chief instead. The firing came amid intense pressure from the community and civil rights attorney Ben Crump over the department's handling of a June shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley.
Vanderford had served as chief for only five months after his October 2025 appointment, making him the second Senatobia police chief to leave in roughly 14 months. The text messages, discovered by investigative outlets, spanned at least 10 conversations dating back to summer and were confirmed by five acquaintances. The firing intensified calls for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to release video footage of Kohen Wiley's death and complete its investigation.
Racist Texts Triggered Immediate Termination
The Board of Aldermen did not acknowledge Vanderford's submitted resignation. Instead, they voted to fire him outright after an executive session. FOX 5 Atlanta reported the messages contained explicit racial language in conversations with colleagues. The texts included multiple slurs and offensive comments about Black people spanning from last summer through recent months.
Five people confirmed they exchanged the racist messages with Vanderford. The communications showed a pattern of offensive behavior rather than isolated incidents. Civil rights groups and community members called the termination overdue, pointing to the messages as evidence of systemic problems within the department's leadership.
Toddler's Death Sparked Leadership Crisis
The firing occurred months after 1-year-old Kohen Wiley died in a June shooting at a local Walmart. Families of the victim and civil rights attorney Ben Crump have demanded transparency about the incident. The department's handling of the case drew criticism, with community members questioning whether leadership failures contributed to oversights.
Crump publicly backed the family's calls for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to release video footage and complete the investigation. He also highlighted unresolved issues including "the Sgt. Foster matter." The pressure from Crump and relatives forced city officials to act on Vanderford's offensive behavior.
Rapid Turnover Signals Deeper Department Problems
Vanderford was only Senatobia's second police chief to leave in 14 months, signaling instability at the top. FOX 13 Seattle reported the short tenure raised questions about hiring practices and oversight. The quick departures suggest the department faces serious internal challenges beyond individual misconduct.
Lt. Angelia Maze now leads the department as interim chief while the city searches for a permanent replacement. Her appointment offers a chance for new leadership to rebuild public trust. Community members are watching closely to see whether the new direction will address systemic issues within the Senatobia police force.
Pressure Mounts for Video Release and Accountability
Civil rights groups and Kohen Wiley's family continue demanding video evidence from the June Walmart shooting. FOX 5 New York noted that Ben Crump's involvement has raised the national profile of the case. Investigators are still evaluating the circumstances that led to the toddler's death and the department's response.
The demand for transparency extends beyond the shooting to questions about the department's culture and leadership decisions. Community members want assurance that officers will be held accountable and that future leaders will operate with integrity. The board's swift action in terminating Vanderford signals a willingness to respond to public pressure and oversight.
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