SENATOBIA, Miss. (WMC/Gray News) – The police chief of a Mississippi city where police shot and killed a 1-year-old Black boy in June has been fired over allegations he used racial slurs in text messages.
The City of Senatobia fired Police Chief Harold “Hal” Vanderford after rejecting his resignation at Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting. It is the second time in 14 months that Senatobia has removed a police chief.
An investigation last month by Mississippi Today and the New York Times revealed Vanderford used the N-word and other racial slurs more than a dozen times in text messages over the last year.
In one text, Vanderford allegedly wrote that he “almost beat a n***** and a white woman’s a** a few minutes ago.”
The text messages reportedly range from summer 2025 to after Vanderford was sworn in as chief.
Vanderford’s firing comes as the city, with a population of 8,500, continues to face scrutiny over the death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, who was shot by police responding to a shoplifting call at Walmart in June.
“The reports of racist language within the Senatobia Police Department are reprehensible and make the continued secrecy and lack of cooperation surrounding Kohen’s death even more unacceptable,” said Ben Crump, the attorney for Kohen’s family, in a statement.
In a later statement responding to the firing of Vanderford, Crump continued to demand the release of footage from Kohen’s fatal shooting.
“Removing this chief was the right decision, and the Senatobia Board of Aldermen deserves credit for acting. But it does not answer the question Kohen’s family has been asking since June 14: what happened to their baby? A 1-year-old was shot and killed by an officer of this department, and nearly three months later his family still has not been allowed to see the footage. The racist language that cost Chief Vanderford his job is exactly why this family cannot simply be told to trust the process. MBI has the footage. Release it, finish the investigation into Sgt. Foster, and give this family the facts they have been owed since the day Kohen died.”
City leaders said last week that “the Chief voluntarily and willingly appeared before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and answered every question that was asked of him. The Chief’s responses were sincere, and he will continue to serve the City with confidence.”
Five days later, Alderman Allen Tanksley, one of two Black board members, said, “Let the record show, truth be told, I, Allen Tanksley, did not agree with that statement and had no part of that statement.”
Alderman at Large Demetrius Garrett, the other Black member of the Board of Aldermen, said, “I would like to pull item No. four on the agenda… I would not like to accept (Vanderford’s) resignation… but I would like to make a motion to terminate.”
The board then, in closed-door executive session, voted unanimously to fire Vanderford.
Patrick Lumumba, founder of the Senatobia Committee for Accountability and Transparency, called Vanderford’s firing a victory after Tuesday night’s meeting.
“We got a win today!” Lumumba said, “We got, you know… we got the head off the monster today. So we got some more heads that need to roll. We got some more dominoes that need to fall.”
For Lumumba, Vanderford’s firing is a boost in the fight for justice for Kohen.
“People are beginning to see how they can be activated in the political process, and they’re seeing the results of it right now and today,” Lumumba said.
Kohen’s death joins a list of other incidents involving Senatobia police:
After those incidents, the Board of Aldermen voted against reappointing Police Chief Richard Chandler in July 2025.
Vanderford was hired as the new police chief in October 2025.
Less than a year later, Senatobia is now looking for another new leader of the police department. Alderman Chris McConnell said the board selected Lt. Angelica Maze to run the department while the search for a new chief begins.
Vanderford has not responded to requests for comment.
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