Senatobia, Miss. – The city’s board of aldermen took decisive action on Tuesday, voting unanimously to fire Police Chief Harold Vanderford. The move follows a wave of controversy surrounding the June 14 shooting of 1‑year‑old Kohen Wiley, who was killed when a police officer fired into a vehicle during a shoplifting call at a local Walmart.
Background of the tragedy
Kohen Wiley, an unborn child, was fatally shot while his mother, Vellesiya Wiley, insisted she and a friend had not stolen anything. No charges have been filed against the mother or her companion. The incident has heightened already‑tense relations between Black residents and law‑enforcement in the small city of more than 8,000, located about 40 miles south of Memphis.
Allegations against Chief Vanderford
Last month, reports from The New York Times, Mississippi Today and Verite News alleged that Chief Vanderford used racist slurs in private text messages with a colleague. While the city initially said Vanderford would answer questions before the board, the aldermen ultimately decided his conduct warranted dismissal.
Board Alderman Demetrius Garrett wrote on Facebook, “I believe the Board has a responsibility to protect the integrity and trust of the Senatobia Police Department. Unity does not mean ignoring serious issues; it means standing together for what is right.”
Calls for accountability
Community activist Patrick Lumumba, who formed the Senatobia Committee for Accountability and Transparency after the shooting, said the firing was a step forward but warned that the deeper culture of racism remains unaddressed. “You removed Richard Chandler, but you did not remove the culture of racism, and that’s what Vanderford harbors,” Lumumba said.
Alderman Chris McConnell urged an independent investigation, citing concerns about departmental leadership, internal culture, complaint handling, financial practices and oversight. “Our citizens deserve a police department they can trust,” he said.
Legal perspective
National civil‑rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wiley family, praised the board’s decision, calling it “the right decision.” He called for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations to release body‑camera footage of the shooting, stating, “The racist language that cost Chief Vanderford his job is exactly why this family cannot simply be told to trust the process.”
Interim leadership
Following Vanderford’s dismissal, Lieutenant Angelica Maze has been appointed interim police chief. Community members have expressed confidence in her, describing her as “a good person” who can help restore trust.
Historical context
Vanderford had been appointed chief on September 29, 2025, after the board declined to reappoint former chief Richard Chandler, whose tenure was marked by several controversies, including the 2023 arrest of a 10‑year‑old Black boy for public urination and a separate incident where an officer threatened a woman with a Taser over a handicapped parking dispute at the same Walmart.
The firing of Chief Vanderford underscores a broader demand for transparency and reform within the Senatobia Police Department, as residents seek assurance that law‑enforcement will protect all citizens fairly and without prejudice.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
