The mayor of Oxford says the city’s police department is now under investigation after one of its officers was charged with murder.
Mayor Robyn Tannehill released a statement Tuesday saying the state attorney general’s office is investigating the department at the city’s request. Matthew Kinne, a former Oxford police officer, is charged with murder in the death of 32-year-old Dominique Clayton, whose body was found this month by her 8-year-old son on May 19. She had been shot in the head.
Tannehill contacted the office last Friday to conduct the internal investigation, three days after Kinne was fired from the department.
“(Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Attorney General Jim Hood) will complete thorough investigations with the full cooperation and support of the Oxford Police Department and city of Oxford,” Tannehill said.
While the state Bureau of Investigation is handling the criminal case, Tannehill said that she and the Board of Aldermen have not terminated or suspended any other officers.
Tannehill began the statement with word of support for Clayton’s family. She added that both the city of Oxford and the police department are “committed to transparency” to gain justice for Clayton.
“Our community continues to mourn alongside the Clayton family. Dominique Clayton was a mother, daughter, sister and friend, and I simply cannot imagine the pain her family is dealing with right now,” Tannehill said. “We extend our deepest sympathies to Dominique’s family and friends. It is my prayer that this tragedy will unite us as a community.”
Kinne is currently being held in neighboring Panola County without bail.
