Mon Sep 23 22:21:40 UTC 2024: ## US Justice Department Launches Probe into Rankin County Sheriff’s Department Following Racially Motivated Torture Conviction

**JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI** – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a civil rights probe into the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), seeking to determine if the department engages in systemic violations of constitutional rights. This investigation comes after the conviction of five former RCSD deputies for their role in the racially motivated torture of two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker.

The DOJ probe is separate from the initial investigation that led to the convictions of the deputies and a former Richland, Mississippi police officer. The officers, who were part of a unit known as the “Goon Squad,” were accused of using excessive force, unlawful searches and arrests, and discriminatory policing.

The current investigation will focus on allegations that the RCSD has a pattern of violating constitutional rights through excessive force, unlawful stops and searches, and discriminatory policing practices. The allegations include overuse of tasers, unlawful home entries, the use of racial slurs, and the use of cruel tactics against those in custody.

Attorney Malik Shabazz, representing Jenkins and Parker, welcomed the investigation, calling it “long overdue.” Shabazz and co-counsel Trent Walker stated that the probe is a crucial step towards holding the RCSD accountable for years of constitutional violations.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi described the allegations as harking back to “some of the worst periods of Mississippi’s history.”

The Mississippi NAACP also expressed support for the investigation, seeing it as a step towards addressing community concerns about potential misconduct within the RCSD.

The investigation comes nearly six months after the former deputies received sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years in prison for their roles in the torture of Jenkins and Parker.

Sheriff Bryan Bailey, while acknowledging the need for improvement and cooperation with the investigation, has maintained his commitment to the safety of Rankin County residents. He has denied wrongdoing in a federal lawsuit filed by Jenkins and Parker, seeking $400 million in damages.

The DOJ’s investigation is expected to be comprehensive and could result in significant changes within the RCSD.

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