Senatobia’s police chief turned in his resignation less than two weeks after a report found he used racist and other inappropriate language in text messages. City leaders did not accept it, though, and voted to fire him instead.
Harold Vanderford, who had been chief since October 2025, submitted his letter of resignation during the day Tuesday. Late Tuesday night, the Senatobia Mayor and Board of Aldermen rejected the letter and voted unanimously to terminate him.
The vote came in the aftermath of an Aug. 22 joint report by Mississippi Today, The New York Times, and Verite News that alleged Vanderford routinely used slurs against Black people and other degrading language in a series of 10 text conversations obtained by the publications.
In one text, Vanderford allegedly wrote that he “almost beat a n***** and a white woman’s a**.” In another, he described having a “racist moment.”
According to the report, the text messages have been verified and range from the summer of 2025 to after Vanderford had been sworn in as chief of police.
Before moving to fire him Tuesday night, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen met with Vanderford twice to discuss the report. On Aug. 26, the city released a statement saying Vanderford had been “sincere” when asked about the alleged text conversations and that he would remain in his position as chief.
“The Chief voluntarily and willingly appeared before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and answered every question that was asked of him,” the statement said. “The Chief’s responses were sincere, and he will continue to serve the City with the confidence that was placed in him at the time that he was appointed as Chief.”
The statement noted that if further review of the situation was necessary, city leaders would “do so promptly and transparently.”
Less than a week later, the Board moved to fire Vanderford. It remains unclear what happened between the city’s Aug. 26 statement and Tuesday night’s vote. It is worth noting, however, that Allen Tanksley, one of Senatobia’s two Black aldermen, publicly said he had no part in the statement released about Vanderford appearing before city officials and disagreed with its contents.
“Let the record show, truth be told, I, Allen Tanksley, did not agree with that statement and had no part of that statement,” Tanksley said.
Neither Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves nor anyone in his office immediately responded to a request for comment from SuperTalk Mississippi News.
Vanderford’s department has also faced criticism over a June officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. The shooting happened when officers responded to the local Walmart following a shoplifting report and remains under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
In the meantime, Lt. Angelica Maze has been named interim police chief. While limited information is available online about Maze, she will lead the department as city officials search for a permanent replacement.