The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is petitioning for the removal of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey amid several accusations claiming that the official has repeatedly abused his position.
NAACP leaders called for Bailey’s resignation during a press conference on Monday, as well as requested for the six officers included in the “Goon Squad” to be given the maximum prison sentence.
In August, five Rankin County deputies and one Richland officer pled guilty to abusing two Black men during a warrantless raid. The six officers were sentenced to jail time for torturing and sexually assaulting Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in January while trying to frame them for crimes they did not commit.
It was later released that Bailey had received a $21,059 raise less than two weeks after the incident, bringing his annual salary to $140,059, which is more than the governor makes.
In early October, a joint effort by The New York Times and Mississippi Today also revealed that Bailey had used his position to obtain phone records from his then-married girlfriend through grand jury subpoenas in 2014.
The sheriff allegedly requested a total of eight subpoenas over the course of the year, claiming that he was conducting a “confidential internal investigation” involving a school district employee. Further documentation showed that Bailey used the power of a grand jury to spy on the employee and his girlfriend, who he believed was being “unfaithful.”
Local officials with the NAACP stated during the press conference that they hope 30,000 signatures from registered Rankin County residents will convince Bailey to resign, as state law says that elected officials can only be removed from office if convicted of a felony.
Even though members of the public have repeatedly called for his resignation, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, Jason Dare, has confirmed that Bailey does not plan to step down from his position.
“I’m going to stay here. I’m not going to resign,” Bailey said on August 3. “I’m going to fix these problems and try to leave this [department] in better shape than I found it.”
Bailey, who is currently seeking a fourth term as sheriff, is running unopposed in this year’s elections.
