Former police officer sentenced for torturing 2 Black men in Mississippi

• Former police officer Brett McAlpin was sentenced.
• He was convicted of torturing two Black men.
• The police brutality case shocks the community.

On Thursday, former Mississippi police officer Brett McAlpin was sentenced for his involvement in the torture of two African American men.

Four other men who were part of the group that tortured the victims had already been sentenced.

Finally, the details of the case that led him behind bars have been provided.

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Former Mississippi police officer Brett McAlpin was sentenced

On Thursday, March 21, former officer Brett McAlpin, 53, was sentenced to over 27 years in prison for his involvement in an act of police brutality that shocked the community.

The horrific events unfolded in a community in Mississippi, where a group of white officers stormed into a residence and tortured two Black men.

The incident was described by Federal Judge Tom Lee as ‘horrific and heinous.

The trial revealed shocking details about the attack, which included beatings, the use of stun guns and sexual abuse with a toy.

Brett McAlpin apologized before his sentencing

According to The Associated Press, one of the victims suffered a gunshot wound to the mouth during the incident.

It was reported that before receiving his sentence, McAlpin wore his jail uniform turned inside out to hide the name of the facility where he is detained.

Upon entering the courtroom, he greeted his family and apologized before the judge pronounced the sentence.

«This was all wrong, very wrong. It’s not how people should treat each other and even more so, it’s not how law enforcement should treat people,» said McAlpin. «I’m really sorry for being a part of something that made law enforcement look so bad.»

Other officers in the ‘Goon Squad’ were also sentenced

Judge Lee, when delivering the sentence, emphasized the seriousness of the acts committed by McAlpin and the other deputies, of which Joshua Hartfield, 32, still awaits sentencing.

This case is part of a series of convictions related to the so-called ‘Goon Squad,’ a group of officers from the Rankin County precinct, on the outskirts of Mississippi’s capital.

The other members of this group also faced significant sentences, according to The Associated Press.

Christian Dedmon was sentenced to 40 years in prison, Daniel Opdyke to 17 and a half years, Hunter Elward to 20 years and Jeffrey Middleton to 17 and a half years.

There are more similar cases

The investigation that led to these convictions was initiated by the federal prosecutor’s office following a series of violent encounters involving these officers.

This investigation was prompted by reports from The Associated Press in March 2023 and revealed at least four cases of police violence against Black men since 2019.

In these instances, two people died, and another suffered permanent injuries.

During these violent encounters, the officers fabricated charges against the victims, planted evidence at the scene, and maintained their version of events for months.

Brett McAlpin and the other men admitted responsibility

However, they ultimately admitted their responsibility for the torture of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker.

Hunter Elward, one of the convicted officers, confessed to conducting a «mock execution» by placing the barrel of a gun into Jenkins’ mouth and firing.

This case has had a profound impact on the community and has underscored the importance of accountability in cases of police brutality.

The convictions of the involved officers send a clear message about the seriousness of such acts and the need to maintain high standards of conduct in law enforcement.