BRANDON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Rankin County NAACP hosted a town hall meeting on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey.

This comes as five former deputies and a former Richland police officer are scheduled to be sentenced on state charges on April 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the Rankin County Circuit Court.

The six former law enforcement officers, known as the “Good Squad,” pled guilty to a long list of state and federal charges for torturing two Black men. They were recently sentenced on the federal charges.

During Saturday’s meeting at the Brandon Public Library, the Rankin County NAACP informed the community about the sentencing update.

“Whatever sentence that was handed down, it fit in federal court. Eighty-five percent of that has to be served before one is eligible for parole. So in the case of Mr. Hartfield, who get 10 years, he’s going to have to serve eight and a half years before he’s eligible for parole,” explained Attorney Trent Walker.

Rankin County NAACP President Angela English said she’s asked for the maximum sentence for the former law enforcement officers.

“We have letters for the judge for the state sentencing. Honorable Judge Bradfield, we hope that you are will find that letter. The letter simply states we would like for him to impose the maximum sentence for the maximum crimes that they have committed and do just follow in the footsteps of the Honorable Judge Lee,” English said.

The parents of Michael Corey Jenkins, one of the men who was tortured in January 2023, also attended Saturday’s meeting. They said their life has changed drastically.

“When these police officers do these things, you don’t know where to turn. You don’t have a guide out there or know who to go to for help,” they said.

English said there is an ongoing petition to remove Sheriff Bailey. She said they have nearly 29,000 signatures.