Police Chief of Senatobia, Mississippi Fired Following Controversial Text Messages

<p>The city of Senatobia, Mississippi, terminated its police chief, Harold Vanderford, on September 1, 2026, after reports surfaced that he regularly used racist slurs in text messages. Senatobia, which has a population that is approximately 40% Black, gained national attention earlier in the year when a white officer fatally shot one-year-old Kohen Wiley while responding to a shoplifting incident at Walmart. The officer fired into a vehicle, hitting the driver and killing the toddler, who was being held by his mother.</p><p>Despite Vanderford submitting a resignation letter on September 1, the city’s board of aldermen unanimously voted to reject the resignation and proceed with his termination. This decision came shortly after the city issued a statement indicating that Vanderford would continue to serve as chief despite the allegations against him.</p>