SENATOBIA, MS — Senatobia’s interim police chief, Angelica Maze, gave her first and only sit-down interview with a news outlet, speaking publicly about her background, her faith and the challenges facing the department. Maze stepped into the job after a difficult summer that included the officer-involved shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley at a Senatobia Walmart.
She told FOX13 she felt a responsibility to accept the position because the department needed leadership in place. Maze said the police chief’s seat had to be filled so the department could keep operating and continue protecting the community. The interview is part of a larger conversation now unfolding in Senatobia about trust, leadership and what comes next for the police department.
A hometown officer with years inside the department
Maze said her ties to Senatobia run deep. She was born in the city and grew up in nearby Coldwater, giving her a personal connection to the community she now helps lead. She also described herself as a wife, a mother of three and a woman of faith.
Her career with Senatobia police began in 2012. Since then, she has worked in patrol, served as a DARE officer and taken on school resource officer duties. Maze said those assignments, especially the work with children, helped shape her sense of purpose in law enforcement.
She said her goal is to make a difference for at least one child every day. That focus, she said, has guided the way she views policing and public service inside the city.
The department faces scrutiny after a controversial summer
Maze took over after former Chief Harold Vanderford was fired by the Board of Aldermen this month. The dismissal followed reports that Vanderford used racial slurs in text messages, a development that added to the pressure already surrounding the department.
The Wiley case also left many residents questioning how the department operates. Community members have said trust between the public and the police has been badly damaged. Maze acknowledged that reality and said restoring confidence will not happen quickly.
She said the department needs to change its culture and return to community policing. In her view, that means more than a new leader at the top; it means a broader shift in how officers connect with residents and how the department presents itself to the people it serves.
Maze says representation matters, but her focus is the whole city
Maze is the first Black woman to serve as interim police chief in Senatobia. She said that milestone matters because people want to see themselves reflected in leadership, especially when an agency is facing public doubt.
At the same time, Maze said her job is not to lead only for one group. She said she wants to represent everyone in the community, not just those who share her background. That balance, she suggested, is part of the responsibility that comes with the temporary post.
Her comments came as residents continue to look for signs that the department is moving toward a more open and accountable future. Maze’s tenure will likely be judged not only by symbolism, but by whether she can help steady the department through a highly sensitive period.
Rebuilding trust in Senatobia police could take time
Maze said she understands that trust, once lost, is not quickly restored. She said it will take time for the department to rebuild relationships with residents who have questions or concerns about recent events.
That process, she said, will require patience and consistency. Her comments reflect the broader challenge facing police leadership in Senatobia: calming a shaken community while also keeping day-to-day operations running. Maze said she believes the department must earn back confidence rather than simply ask for it.
She also said she plans to apply for the police chief job on a full-time basis. That makes her current role both a stopgap and a possible audition for the permanent position, depending on how the city decides to move forward.
Questions remain about the Kohen Wiley investigation and body-camera video
FOX13 said the second part of its interview with Maze will focus on the Kohen Wiley death investigation, the officer involved and whether the public will ever see police body-camera video. Those questions remain central to the public conversation surrounding the shooting and the department’s response.
Maze’s decision to speak publicly in the first place was notable because she described it as her only sit-down interview with a news outlet. In doing so, she offered a personal portrait of her life and also signaled the challenges ahead for the department she now leads.
The interview suggests the next phase in Senatobia will be shaped by transparency, accountability and the city’s effort to move forward after a turbulent season for local law enforcement.
