Senatobia Police Chief exposed for using racial slurs in text messages

Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford has been exposed using racial slurs and expressing hatred toward Black people in a series of text messages. According to reports from Mississippi Today, a colleague shared approximately ten text conversations dating back to last summer that contain more than a dozen instances of racial slurs.

Vanderford, a 60-year-old with 29 years in law enforcement, was hired last fall with the stated goal of “reestablishing and solidifying trust” within the community. His appointment followed the removal of the previous chief due to controversies, including the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old Black infant and the arrest of a 10-year-old Black boy.

In the leaked messages, Vanderford reportedly described having a “racist moment” and used various forms of racial epithets.