Kenneth “Kenny” Hampton, a widely known police chief in Mississippi who often found unconventional ways to enforce the law, has passed away at the age of 54 after suffering from a heart attack.
Hampton first made waves as police chief in Tchula, where he was both praised and criticized for his habit of exposing criminals through social media. Hampton would go after both suspects and those already arrested, often referring to them as “dumba–” or other colorful nicknames such as “The Three Stooges.”
In the summer of 2016 – two years after Hampton had left the Marines to pursue a career in law enforcement – the patrol officer recently turned chief summed up his way of policing in pretty simple terms on Facebook: “I’m not your average Chief of Police! In my town if you do the crime be prepared to pay the fine or do the time. If you think you can run from me and get away with crimes you’ve committed, YOU CAN’T! Your only way out is to turn yourself in OR go with options A and B
“Option A: Move to the moon. Option B: Build you a nest in a Eagles A– and hope he never has to s–t!!”
In 2017, Hampton resigned from his post as top cop in Tchula, telling the Clarion-Ledger he felt “pressured” to do so. In 2022, he was hired as chief of police in Yazoo City, and with him, came his no-nonsense approach to policing.
Hampton quickly set his sights on implementing a youth curfew in Yazoo City, fining and even arresting parents for supplying their child with a firearm, and detaining minors on unauthorized vehicles such as scooters and ATVs. Following internal issues with the mayor, Hampton turned in his letter of resignation after a year on the job and returned to Tchula as chief.
Hampton spent his final months arresting criminals his way in Tchula, often calling himself the “baddest alligator in the swamp.” Funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time.
