Dwayne Thornton is set to be the new undersheriff of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, sources have confirmed to SuperTalk Mississippi News.
Thornton, previously a chief deputy of patrol with the department, replaces Paul Holley after Holley stepped down last week. Holley had been on the job for four months before deciding to leave.
The move to promote within comes after the department recently had five deputies plead guilty to abusing, torturing, and sexually assaulting two Black men during a warrantless search.
Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who has vowed not to step down amid the controversy, has also been the subject of reports that he used his position to obtain phone records from his then-married girlfriend.
Thornton is a 24-year veteran of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, first starting his career as a reserve deputy before progressing as a detention officer, deputy sheriff, investigator, and chief investigator.
