The incident occurred in the town of Braxton, where six white law enforcement officers, including Hunter Elward, a former Rankin County Deputy, attacked Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrel Parker in January.
In a shocking case of racist abuse and police brutality, former Mississippi sheriff’s deputies have pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges related to the violent assault on two Black men
During the brutal attack, Jenkins and Parker were subjected to physical and sexual assault, racist abuse, and even a gunshot that wounded Jenkins. The officers also planted drugs on Jenkins to cover up their crimes. The racist abuse came to light following an investigation by The Associated Press, which linked some of the deputies to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019, resulting in two deaths and severe injuries.
Hunter Elward, along with Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, and Joshua Hartfield from the Richland Police Department, were among those who pleaded guilty to the charges. The guilty pleas have brought some measure of justice for Jenkins and Parker, who had feared that their racist abusers would escape punishment.
Monica Lee, whose son Damien Cameron died after being pummeled by Elward two years prior, expressed relief that Elward is going to federal prison. However, she is concerned that the culture of corruption and violence within the sheriff’s office may persist. Some members of the community also fear spending time in Rankin County due to the prevailing atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
Angela English, president of the Rankin County NAACP, pointed out the negligence of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, stating that a “code of blue” culture prevailed, where officers protected one another instead of the citizens they were meant to serve.
Bailey has refused to resign, but critics argue that changes in leadership are necessary to rebuild trust in law enforcement
Experts, including Keith Taylor, a former police officer and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, emphasize that department culture plays a significant role in shaping the mindsets of officers. If policing culture tolerates racism and other forms of discrimination, officers on the street are likely to exhibit such behavior.
The guilty pleas offer some hope that justice can prevail, but many believe that robust internal oversight systems are essential to prevent future incidents of racist abuse and police misconduct. The racist abuse inflicted upon victims like Damien Cameron, Michael Corey Jenkins, and Eddie Terrel Parker serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for meaningful reform in law enforcement agencies to eradicate systemic racism and protect the rights of all citizens.
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