SENATOBIA — The City of Senatobia is searching for a permanent police chief following the firing of former Chief Harold “Hal” Vanderford and the appointment of an interim chief earlier this month.
The city is accepting applications for the position through 5 p.m. Oct. 8.
The search comes after Vanderford was fired Sept. 1, days after investigative reports by Mississippi Today, Verite News and The New York Times detailed text messages in which Vanderford repeatedly used racist slurs and other degrading language. Vanderford had submitted his resignation, but the Mayor and Board of Aldermen rejected it and voted to terminate him instead.
Vanderford had become chief in October 2025 after controversy surrounding the chief previous to him as well. His firing came amid heightened scrutiny of the Senatobia Police Department following a June incident in which law enforcement officers, firing at a vehicle that was accelerating in their direction, ended up fatally shooting 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a police response to a reported shoplifting incident at a Walmart.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. No one has released information on whether any police officers were hit by that vehicle.
The city has appointed Lt. Angelica Maze as interim chief during its Sept. 2 Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting. Maze has more than a decade of law enforcement experience with the department, beginning as a patrol officer before serving as a school resource officer. She was promoted to sergeant in 2022 and later became a lieutenant.
Maze is well-known and well-liked in the community.
The permanent chief will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the Senatobia Police Department, including personnel, training, investigations, crime prevention, policy development, budgeting and internal accountability.
Applicants must hold current Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training certification and have at least 10 years of law enforcement experience, including at least three years in a supervisory or command position.
The city also requires candidates to demonstrate leadership, administrative and organizational abilities, strong communication skills and knowledge of modern policing methods, community policing principles and state and federal law.
Applicants must have no felony convictions or disqualifying criminal history and must have or be able to obtain a Mississippi driver’s license.
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration or a related field is preferred, as is experience in a municipal police department and experience with budget management, policy implementation and interagency cooperation.
The new chief will also be expected to work closely with the mayor, Board of Aldermen, city departments and the community; oversee hiring, training and discipline; manage the department’s budget; handle internal investigations; develop policies governing criminal cases, emergency response and use of force; and serve as a public and media representative for the department.
The city is requiring a detailed application packet that includes a cover letter addressed to the mayor and Board of Aldermen, a current resume or CV, a copy of the applicant’s BLEOST certification and driver’s license, at least three letters of recommendation and a one- to two-page personal statement outlining the applicant’s law enforcement leadership philosophy and approach to community policing and department management.
Applicants must also provide copies of additional certifications or specialized training and a completed city job application.
The application process includes a comprehensive background investigation, including verification of employment with previous law enforcement agencies, review of disciplinary and personnel records, criminal and driving history checks and verification of BLEOST certification and training history.
Applications can be submitted online through the City of Senatobia’s website, cityofsenatobiams.gov, or delivered to City Hall Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding the noon to 1 p.m. lunch hour.
The deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 8, 2026.
