Title: Sentencing Hearings Reveal Disturbing Culture of Violence in Mississippi Sheriff’s Department
Sentencing hearings this week for six law enforcement officers, some of whom were members of the Goon Squad, uncovered a troubling pattern of extreme violence being used as a policing tool within a Mississippi sheriff’s department.
Prosecutors and deputies described a toxic culture in which senior officers encouraged deputies to humiliate and torture individuals suspected of crimes. Young deputies saw violence as a means to advance their careers and meet the expectations set by their supervisors, who were revered within the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.
Former narcotics detective Christian Dedmon admitted in court that a culture of misconduct prevailed at the sheriff’s office, and he climbed the ranks by engaging in unethical behavior. Dedmon and five other officers were sentenced for federal civil rights violations related to the torture and sexual assault of two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker.
The officers shocked the men with Tasers, abused them with a sex toy, and even staged a mock execution that nearly resulted in Jenkins’ death. Additionally, three deputies were sentenced for their involvement in the beating of Alan Schmidt, where Dedmon shocked Schmidt with a Taser and engaged in degrading behavior while the man was handcuffed.
Judge Tom Lee handed down the final sentences this week, with ringleader Brett McAlpin receiving over 27 years in prison and another detective, Joshua Hartfield, receiving a 10-year sentence. An investigation by Mississippi Today and The New York Times previously exposed a long history of abuse by nearly two dozen deputies within the department.
Testimony during the hearings shed light on the widespread violence, with federal prosecutor Christopher Perras stating that McAlpin had been involved in numerous incidents where he led deputies in brutalizing individuals without consequence. Residents in impoverished communities in Rankin County have long complained about deputies targeting them without warrants and using excessive force.
The revelations have raised questions about the leadership within the sheriff’s department, with concerns that higher-ups were aware of the misconduct but failed to intervene. Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who denies knowledge of his deputies’ actions, has faced criticism for promoting individuals like McAlpin despite ongoing complaints.
As the community grapples with the fallout from these revelations, local prosecutors are reviewing cases involving Goon Squad members to determine if they should be dismissed. Victims like Parker and Jenkins are calling for further investigations into Sheriff Bailey’s role in the department’s culture of violence.
The sentencing hearings have brought to light a disturbing chapter in the history of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, prompting calls for accountability and reform within the law enforcement agency.
