A Yazoo City police officer was fired and four others were placed on administrative leave following an investigation of using excessive force during an arrest.
Interim Police Chief Jay Winstead brought the evidence and the investigation forward to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen Monday. Following the presentation in executive session, the board voted to terminate the officer.
Winstead declined to identify the terminated officer because it is considered a personnel matter, but The Yazoo Herald independently confirmed the fired officer was Morris Minor.
Minor was terminated for excessive use of force during an arrest that occurred Sunday. The excessive use of force was captured on the camera system inside the patrol car, which was reviewed by Winstead prior to this week’s city council meeting. Video footage captures Minor using excessive physical force during the arrest.
Winstead said the Yazoo City Police Department will not tolerate officer misconduct, especially excessive use of force.
“There are many of us here at this department who have fought long and hard to change the department’s image and the public’s outlook on law enforcement in general,” Winstead said. “Transparency is the key. I am glad the Board of Mayor and Aldermen took action as soon as I made them aware of it. This is another blow to law enforcement, but hopefully, the public will recognize that as soon as we were made aware of this issue, the department and board took immediate action.”
Four other officers were also placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation from the Yazoo City Police Department and the Attorney General’s office.
