Published on January 24, 2025. Click here for release.
Pursuant to Mississippi personnel guidelines, Capitol Police officer Michael Rhinewalt has been placed on administrative leave without pay until such time as he can be provided an agency due process hearing. Former Capitol Police officer, Jeffery Walker has not been employed by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) since July 2023.
MDPS follows a structured process for handling officer-involved shooting incidents. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) conducts independent fact-finding investigations, once their findings are complete, they are turned over to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, who oversees any resulting court proceedings and prosecutions and presents to a Grand Jury. In this case, a Grand Jury determined there was sufficient probable cause to issue an indictment against the two officers.
To further strengthen accountability in 2024, MDPS has established an Internal Affairs Division that operates independently of other agencies within MDPS and reports directly to Commissioner Tindell. This division includes dedicated investigators tasked with independently handling complaints of officer misconduct. In addition, Capitol Police officers now wear body cameras and additional policies have been instituted to ensure greater professionalism and accountability. Anyone wishing to file a complaint can do so at our website (www.dps.ms.gov).
No further comment will be made at this time.