Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi announced in a press conference that they will be opening a civil investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.
The focus of the investigation will be on these three things:
- Whether or not the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department has a pattern of using excessive force
- Whether or not the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department engages in a pattern of making unlawful stops, searches, and arrests
- Whether or not the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department engages in racially discriminatory policing practices.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said they did not open this investigation based on a single incident or event and that they will not confine the investigation to a specific unit.
She said that she cannot speak about Rankin County without mentioning the horrific violence that five former deputies inflicted on two black men in 2023.
Micahel Jenkins and Eddie Parker were brutally beaten, tortured, and taunted with racial slurs, one deputy shot jenkins in mouth while attempting a mock execution.
The goon squad, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton, Joshua Hartfield, and Daniel Opdyke have been convicted and sentenced to federal prison. The lead defendant was sentenced to 40 years.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke said they have received reports of other instances indicating that this conduct was far too common within the department.
She said they received alleged reports that some officers allegedly overused tasers, entered homes unlawfully, used shocking racial slurs, and used dangerous cruel tactics to assault people in custody.
Deputies allegedly failed to properly document or report force they used and there are allegations that the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department didn’t hold them accountable for these actions.
Deputies allegedly plant evidence, coerce confessions, and have tried to hide evidence of their wrongdoing, particularly on the people of Rankin County.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke said, “Allegations like these have persisted for years which shows widespread department failure.”
She stated that individual officers must be held accountable for their actions.
The Rankin County Sheriff’s office posted a release on their Facebook page following the press conference, saying, “The Department of Justice announced today that it is beginning an investigation into various policing practices at the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department. We have increased our agency’s transparency by placing our policies and procedures, in addition to our compliments and complaints portal, on the Sheriff’s Department website. We will continue this transparency and will fully cooperate with all aspects of this investigation, while also welcoming DOJ’s input into our updated policies and practices.”
The Justice Department Civil Rights Department and the Attorney General’s Office are opening a civil investigation that is entirely separate from any criminal investigation.
She said they have briefed Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey and city officials and they have pledged their support and cooperation with the investigation.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke said, “We hope that community members in Rankin County will trust us with their experiences.”
She spoke about how they want to ensure constitutional policing and promote greater trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
They are also opening eleven other investigations of law enforcement agencies across the country.
Next, U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi talked about the horrific acts of the “Goon Squad”.
He said this may not be written off as an isolated incident.
U.S. Attorney Gee said that three of those same deputies pleaded guilty in another brutal attack in December 2022. He said this involved the deputies allegedly punching, kicking, and tasing a white victim and then firing a gun near him to scare him.
He also spoke about the texts between members of the Rankin County “Goon Squad” including – routinely discussed unnecessary means of force to dehumanize people. He talked about how deputies shared a video of them defecating inside a Rankin County resident’s home.
U.S. Attorney Gee said that brave residents of Rankin County came together to share their experiences in a listening session that he held. He spoke about how he heard first-hand accounts of the alleged abuse.
Blood on the Badge: The Fateful Last Ride of The Rankin County Goon Squad
He said the investigation they announced today will examine these alleged practices in great detail. If they determine that this practice of discrimination has occurred, U.S. Attorney Gee said they will seek remedies that bring real change to all the residents of Rankin County.
“We all want to hope that Mississippi and our nation have moved past a time where such crimes could occur. but the allegations involving the “Goon Squad” and others in Rankin County echo back to 1964 in ways that we must confront. Simply put, the events in Rankin County appear to be a continuation of the violence and intimidation that for too long has defined how many African Americans experience the justice system in Mississippi. We do not have to accept the old hatreds and abuse of the past.”
U.S. Attorney Gee said that he wants to be clear that there are good law enforcement officers in Rankin County and all over Mississippi.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi will jointly conduct this investigation.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department via email at community.rankin@usdoj.gov or by toll free phone at (888) 392-8557. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s new reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov/. Individuals can also report civil rights violations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAMSS.civilrights@usdoj.gov or (601) 973-2825.
Today’s announcement marks the 12th pattern or practice investigation into law enforcement misconduct opened by the Justice Department during this administration. The Justice Department recently completed an investigation of the Phoenix Police Department.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s police reform work can be found here.
