Goon Squad Violence Leads to Federal Investigation of Miss. Sheriff’s Office NYT | Top Stories Jerry Mitchell, Brian Howey and Nate Rosenfield 20 September 2024 at 06:45 The Justice Department will determine if allegations of widespread violence and improper searches amount to a pattern of discrimination in the department. © Rory Doyle for The New York TimesRankin County came to national attention last year after sheriff’s deputies tortured two Black men in their home and shot one of them, nearly killing him.