The Richland Police Department posted the following announcement on Facebook.
It is with profound sadness and heartfelt regret that we must confirm that former Officer Joshua Hartfield, while off duty, has been implicated in an incident occurring in Rankin County, Mississippi on January 24, 2023. We must express our deepest disappointment that a member of our department is claimed to be involved in a situation that goes against our department's commitment to serve and protect the public.
Upon receiving the information regarding the allegations against Hartfield, immediate action was taken in line with our strict standards of responsibility and accountability. Hartfield was placed on administrative leave, subjected to disciplinary action, and subsequently tendered his resignation from the Richland Police Department.
If proven factual, this incident taints the respected badge that symbolizes the noble cause of all law enforcement, a symbol held dear by countless officers who strive tirelessly each day to uphold the highest levels of integrity, dedication, and selfless service to others. We are reminded once again that our mandate to serve and protect is not just a call to action, but a sacred trust that requires our unwavering commitment.
In my capacity as a leader, I carry a deep love for this profession and remain steadfastly dedicated to promoting constitutional, proactive, accountable policing. This mission statement has always been at the heart of our organization.
While this incident has been a stern reminder of the grave responsibility we bear, it is essential to recognize that the actions of a single individual, in his or her personal capacity, do not define the collective characterof our law enforcement officers. Every day, they rise to the daunting challenge of combating darkness and protecting our community with unparalleled courage and unwavering integrity.
Though it's a stark reality that some may falter and succumb to the shadows, the overwhelming majority of our officers stand strong, while bravely confronting the darkness in this world. They do this not because it's their job, but because it's their calling, and they do it with an ironclad resolve and the utmost integrity.
As we navigate through this difficult time, we reaffirm our commitment to holding ourselves accountable. Just as we bring criminals to justice, so too must we hold ourselves to the same standards and answer for our actions.
In the face of this challenging ordeal, our resolve remains unshaken. We continue to march forward, guided by our duty, and driven by our collective commitment to serve, protect, and uphold justice.
Our department will continue to fully cooperate with all agencies involved in the ongoing investigation.
Nick McLendon Chief of police
Richland Police Department
Kingfish note: Word percolated among the Street Committee last week an off-duty Richland police officer was involved in the alleged assault on Michael Corey Jenkins in Braxton on the night of January 24. Nothing like a bored small-town cop who wants some "action."
56 comments:
That’s all good and fine.
But let’s start with MHP and the continuing speeding and reckless driving they do.
MHP. Rules for thee, but not for me.
So he was off duty and just decided to go torture some black guys in his free time? Sounds like he truly loved his job.
The officer was riding with rankin county deputy, which he is aloud to do with his interdiction status. He has worked with investigators to make sure his name is clear, he was there and guilty by association. He has stepped up and told what needed to be told. He did not agree with what happened.
Was that lengthy diatribe from the chief necessary? I suppose it was necessary to accomplish his underlying motive.
Sounds to me like a 1960s scenario of cop talk, "Y'all call me when you ready to go out one night and whup some ass!"
Hayseed PD.
To get fired he had to have participated, and he had to have known about this squad of thugs.
"Just as we bring criminals to justice, so too must we hold ourselves to the same standards and answer for our actions."
So where are the arrests?
How much liability did he open up Richland to?
Taxpayers- open wide your wallets
Well, gosh. I'm shocked that RCSO and RPD have broken the rules of Top Secret Rankin LEO Operations and rushed to release this. And just 6 months after the incident! I thought all those "operators" in "special" units were under Top Secret orders, G-34 Classified, right? And everybody knows that it's at LEAST 25 years before you release secret information on our Super Secret "Operators" and Commandos. (Except for all the SEAL books, movies, posters, and convention appearances, but they are the NOT Quiet/Quite Profesionals, anyway.) So, bad information control, Rankin.
And, it's not like they are using weasel words to cover up bad news, in an era where transparency is needed for trust in law enforcement.
What's next? Was Tater there filming a campaign ad? Was this torture session being used by a mythical rogue CIA unit for "training?" Were the other two State guys? Or somebody's girlfriend or cousin?
SIX MONTHS and we just now know 4 out of 6 persons. That's OUTRAGEOUS, Chief, Sheriff, Counselor, Board of Supervisors, and other heads involved. Wait for the squirming when YOU get deposed and the voters speak on the lag and excuses.
By the way, KF. WHAT DID BRYAN ASK FOR IN THIS WEEK's ANNUAL BUDGET REQUEST concerning Liability Insurance and Bonds??? He is supposed to attend every BOS meeting. Did you go or will you go??
I don’t know how much liability that the City is opened up to now, but they took a pretty good whipping when they falsely fired a well known, well liked, and highly respected Lieutenant who supervised the department’s Investigation’s Division. The Federal Court slapped the City with a pretty stern ruling against them for terminating the Lieutenant for “having PTSD”. After a pretty weak case that they had been “built” against the Lieutenant and many, many months of stalling, the system actually worked and found in favor of the former Lieutenant. Maybe the lies and good ol’ boy system should see the light of day. Especially since the present Chief played a big part in that. Just a note, many veteran law enforcement officers have some level of PTSD. Now we see why so many officers are afraid to come forward and ask for help when they so desperately need it!
The first one has talked, he’s the smartest one. He even might get lucky and only get house arrest or probation. If he really didn’t agree with it ! After it’s all said done Richland shouldn’t have to fork over more than 5 to 15 percent of the final settlement.
The next one is going to cooperate soon and this will be the beginning to the end for these guys. They need to get their business in order, resources for a bond and such.
Other reasons why I never drive in Rankin County unless I need to go to the airport. BTW, I got stopped coming from Rankin County to Hinds county several years ago very late at night. I had arrived very late from a flight. The Rankin County law enforcer wrongly assumed I would not have been driving that direction unless I was heading home from drinking. I disappointed him by the fact he had no reason to think I had been drinking.
This is by far the goofiest virtue signaling to come out of Niknar.
He had a duty to intervene and give aid to the man shot. Inexcusable and indefensible.
This'll cost Richland at least treefiddy to settle.
Maybe more!
@ 5:53: Yeah, right. He worked with investigators to make sure his name is clear? You mean he went running and singing to the feds to cut a deal before they put him away for 30 years. He may get a year or three shaved off his sentence for singing like a bird, but I'll bet the farm the man is going to jail for at least seven to ten years. If he was there and failed to act, he's just as guilty as the rest. The only good news? Finally, some light is shed on Mississippi's racist cop problem. It's endemic in many counties, with Rankin probably leading the pack. And you don't have that many cops on one police force engaging in (and apparently enjoying) the torture of two black kids unless the whole department is corrupt. Get rid of them all, starting with the Chief, who will likely face criminal charges with the rest of them.
Richland just became Poor land.
I’m confused, Kingfish. How could he expose Richland to liability if he was off duty? Time for you to stop playing lawyer. Stick to what you know.
Was this accused officer still a K9 officer with Richland? Did he have his city issued dog off duty with him at the alleged scene of the alleged off duty crimes?
Could be more complaints rolling in.
@10:36- ask yourself did he maybe identify himself as a police officer in some way?
Randy Tucker is an example of hw to run a Sheriff Office. He cleaned out this lot from his predecessor when the feds came calling. I can't believe I am saying it but he is probably the best the Tri County has.
First I've heard the claim that he was 'fired because he has PTSD'. That claim is outrageous, not to mention a violation of federal law, if true.
The officer sounds like a Freak of the Week.
I'm sure he will get a promotion somewhere.
Welcome to the party, City of Richland.
Why would a Ricland LEO choose to do a ride-along on his time off? Cops often have terrible personalities, possibly ruined by exposure to human disasters.
10:36 The federal court will sort it out. Happy Fourth of July!
8:37
I'm sure you're just as careful to avoid Holmes County, Jefferson County and a host of others that operate as bottom feeders.
This story keeps getting more strange by the day.
At first I thought MCJ was another grifter crying racism to make a buck, but with each revelation his lawsuit gets stronger.
Shame on those officers for playing into out shameful reputation. They set our reputation as Mississippians back another decade or two. I hope they pay dearly for it.
5:38
Really? I guess you forgot about the bar fight at Shuckers.
@11:47 that was a family matter. His deputies get the proper DEI training . Their only mistake was being associated with a former judge several years ago. They know him and his lot are poison, so they keep their distance under the Sheriff’s guidance .
The public needs to see the investigation report of the January events. Speculation and allegations for 6 months is long enough.
Put an end to it and just release the damned report.
Idk, but “profound sadness and heartfelt regret” in this context is like SOOOO inappropriate.
@6:42 Richland settled that suit. It’s public record.
10:36 - Whether or not he was off duty, he was in the vehicle (and present throughout) in accordance with and because of his official capacity as a LEO.
He was probably also armed, but that matters not. Stick to what you don't know and continue to keep us entertained.
The Feds need to take a deeper look into the actions of Richland’s whole “FLEX Unit.” Including the current Chief who led the unit and the former Chief who let them run wild in Jackson, pulling people over because they entered the tag numbers as “seen in Jackson,” and falsified search warrants.
You want the report released? What do you want to do, compromise prosecution?
MBI investigates the case and forwards to AG for prosecution. It is my understanding the results were forwarded to the AG. I heard that a few weeks ago. I tend to believe it because it's not a coincidence the Sheriff and RPD are firing people within a few days of each other. Playing devil's advocate, everyone was screaming for Sheriff to fire the deputies but he was not investigating the case as he had turned it over to the state, as he should have done. A source at RCSO said he was waiting for the state to report its findings before me took action.
The real problem is Mississippi's public records laws. They contain a big fat exception for investigative reports of this nature. Meaning the state or law enforcement can claim the final report is investigative and seal it. They can waive the exemption but it rarely happens.
@Kingfish The 1:49 pm comment was in response to the Federal Lawsuit referred to in @7:44 pm’s comment.
10:29 AM You can add Carroll and Montgomery counties to that list.
Granted that no one wants to compromise the investigation, but there is an abundance of evidence and these guys should be under arrest. What’s the hold up, are they waiting for them to arrange bail….or other special favors?
Thanks for clarifying KF. Mostly I’m just sick of the BS that fills the vacuum when real evidence isn’t available. (Such as the “abundance of evidence,” without any actual evidence, cited at 8:01).
Is there any hope on the horizon of plugging the hole in the law that allows reports to be sealed indefinitely?
-12:38
@ 11:47 - Turn your cap around. A drunk walking up behind an out-of-uniform law enforcement officer and cold cocking the officer is hardly a 'bar fight'.
It was simply a 'Hold my beer Cletus' moments, and the drunk paid the price.
When is it going to dawn on some of your knuckle dragging commenters, KF, that there are TWO investigations ongoing at the moment? One is being conducted by MBI in conjunction with the AG's Office and relates to potential state law crimes. The other is federal and is being conducted through the Department of Justice and relates to federal law violations. Every single deputy involved is in deep $h!+
Will there be evidence that the sheriff was aware and did nothing?
What is wrong with law enforcement that they can find so many psychopaths to employ?
Not one person in this hillbilly bunch thought this was wrong enough to end it or at a minimum report it?
I'm a redneck who lives in Rankin and this is just beyond horrific and seems to imply serious systemic problems in law enforcement.
Its sad that many have diluted the claims of racism with ridiculousness. Because I am as conservative as they come but I am not blind. This is real racism that deserves to be addressed at the highest level.
@8:31 - the only way we could find out what the sheriff knew would be through truthful testimony from his fellow gang members. They would rather die than snitch on a made man like the sheriff. They all know what will happen to them and their families if they snitch.
Those two were guilty of something or the officers wouldn't have been there in the first place. Sometimes it takes a little leverage to get a confession.
Chief stated he was off duty. This is not so. He was suspended for leaving the city of Richland without permission from his supervisor. The suspension was for two weeks. He was back working on the street until about six weeks ago. Officer was not fired but resigned on his own. Sad situation but stop trying to make yourself look better.
12:08
Agreed that he is the thug leader , but the feds (who hate Mississippi) enter the chat , there will be a weak link squealing to save hisself!
No the Sheriff doesn’t get indicted, the other admin better hope they didn’t conspire in this deal. Remember folks the DOJ realize this is their one shot. They digging many years back and throwing everything at the wall to see if it sticks .
How stupid do you have to be to call a redneck a hillbilly? Very?
I am positive the FEDS have obtained warrants for all the deputies phones including the Sheriff. The report will be very interesting indeed. Mayne it is time for new leadership. Just a thought.
How stupid do you have to be to argue the semantics of the proper use of various (interchangeable) country folk insults?
@12:34, they may have been criminals but now they’re about to be millionaires.
9:25, I believe their damages are capped at $500K.
Josh Hartfield was there and did not stop anyone from doing anything. his tazer went off TWENTY FUCKING TIMES . he isn’t trying to clear his name. he is scared now bc of what he and the other deputies did. they thought hiding behind a badge would save them and they intended on Michael dying that day ! how much do you think your life is worth ? i think 400 million is not even enough to match up to someone’s life . they are not criminals ; and even if they were NO ONE DESERVES THAT KIND OF TREATMENT AT ALL. those two black men are two of the most kind hearted people that will give you their shirts off their backs , Michael has never had a criminal background either. easier to speak on shit you know nothing about . This isn’t about money , it’s about JUSTICE . not only for them but for everyone else that has experienced police brutality and it constantly being swept under the rug. whatever time the judge gives them will never be enough for the pain and scaring they have put them through .
NO JUSTICE NO PEACE .
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