Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Starkville Police Department officer after the city referred the case to its county counterpart, OCSO Lt. Brett Watson confirmed Thursday.
Watson said the police department asked the sheriff’s office for assistance. He offered no additional comments on the active investigation.
The identity of the officer — and whether he or she is still employed with the city — is unknown.
City officials also declined to comment on the matter, but last week a source close to the situation said the incident involved the officer sending inappropriate text messages to an individual.
The last known internal investigation of a Starkville police officer became public last month when aldermen, after meeting behind closed doors, voted to suspend Charles Jordan without pay pending the results of the investigation.
That motion was based on a joint recommendation by SPD Chief Frank Nichols and Human Resources Director Navarette Ashford.
On Wednesday, city staff confirmed Jordan had submitted a letter of resignation and left the force.
The Dispatch filed Freedom of Information Act requests Thursday for documents related to Jordan’s employment status and SPD’s internal investigation, but the city has not yet acted on those requests.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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