A “listening session” organized by the Rankin County chapter of the NAACP along with the Department of Justice changed course after attorneys who represent the sheriff’s department and the county sat in, and were asked to leave to prevent victims from feeling intimidated. 

The NAACP had organized the session on Thursday, Oct. 25, at Mount Carmel Ministries in Pearl in association with the Justice Department to provide for a safe space for victims of police excesses by Rankin County law enforcement to speak up. The Justice Department opened an investigation into the patterns and practices of policing in Rankin County last month, after six members of a “Goon Squad” of deputies were sentenced for their role in the abuse and torture of three men. An investigation by the New York Times and Mississippi Today had revealed that the abuse spanned decades, and dozens of Rankin County residents had experienced similar brutality at the hands of officers. 

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had called the actions of the “Goon Squad” “a betrayal of their community, a betrayal of their profession.”

The invitation to the listening session urged Rankin County residents who felt that they had been affected by any kind of discrimination, harassment or potential civil rights violations to attend. 

Angela English, president of the Rankin County chapter of the NAACP, said that when she asked the attorneys to leave, they refused, insisting the session was a public event. So instead of inviting attendees to share their experiences with the group as planned, the NAACP arranged for private one-on-one sessions in separate rooms of the church.

“When they realized they weren’t hearing anything, they left after like 20, 30 minutes,” English said about the attorneys. 

She claimed that a Rankin County deputy and a former officer of the FBI were also present. 

In a statement made on Facebook in September, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department had written that it would “fully cooperate” with all aspects of the Justice Department’s investigation, “while also welcoming DOJ’s input into our updated policies and practices.”

Jason Dare, an attorney who represents the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, said he was not attending on behalf of the department, but rather in his individual capacity as a member of the Rankin County community. He claimed that he was there to learn.

“That is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” English said. 

“I was just sitting in the back. I was not dressed in anything other than attorney attire,” Dare said. He added that he did not have a badge or gun issued by the sheriff’s department. 

“I’m not sure anybody even knew who I was until I was introduced [to English] and I was asked to leave.”

Dare said he told two Justice Department officials that he planned to attend the listening session a day in advance, and that they didn’t raise concerns. 

Mississippi Today has attempted to reach Neeta Pal of the Department of Justice. This story will be updated if she responds. 

Richard Cirilli, an attorney at Brunini Law who attended the session, had not responded to a request for comment at press time. In 2018 and 2019, the Rankin County Board of Supervisors hired the Brunini firm to lobby on their behalf, according to government transparency group OpenSecrets. The story will be updated if and when Cirilli responds.

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