Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Sentenced for Torture of Black Men Amid Civil Rights Investigation
JACKSON, Miss. – The recent prosecution of six former law enforcement officers for the torture of two Black men in Mississippi highlights the Justice Department’s commitment to restoring public trust following significant violations, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
During a visit to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Mississippi, Garland addressed the community from the same federal courthouse where these officers pleaded guilty last year, with sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years.
Garland condemned the actions of the six individuals—five deputies from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and one officer from Richland—as "a betrayal of the community they were sworn to protect," reiterating his strong denunciation of their "depravity."
In a significant move, the Justice Department has announced a civil rights investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department to examine potential patterns of excessive force, unlawful stops, searches, and racially discriminatory policing practices.
"We are committed to collaborating with local officials and the community to conduct a thorough investigation," Garland stated to a group of local law enforcement officers, which notably excluded Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey.
The former officers—Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and Joshua Hartfield—admitted to unlawfully entering a home and assaulting Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker over several hours. The brutal attack included beatings, the use of stun guns, and assaults with sexual objects, culminating in one victim being shot.
The abuse was reportedly so extensive that the officers referred to themselves as the "Goon Squad." Investigative reports revealed connections between these officers and multiple violent incidents resulting in deaths of Black men dating back to 2019.
Angela English, president of the Rankin County NAACP, expressed her satisfaction with Garland’s visit and hopes that the Justice Department’s investigation will catalyze necessary reforms within the criminal justice system.
"This has been an ongoing issue for decades, resulting in abuse, loss of livelihood, and significant trauma for many families,” English stated.
The horrifying incidents involving Jenkins and Parker transpired on January 24, 2023, beginning when a white individual alerted the authorities about the two Black men staying in a home with a white woman.
Inside the residence, the officers subjected the victims to degrading treatment, including handcuffing, pouring substances over them, and forcing them to strip naked while mocking them with racial slurs.
Local communities have drawn parallels between this case and Mississippi’s historical racial violence, noting that unlike past atrocities, those who abused their power are now facing justice.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke further revealed that the Justice Department has received reports of additional alarming incidents within the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, citing excessive stun gun use and unlawful entries, alongside the use of racial slurs and cruel tactics against individuals in custody.
