White State Trooper Resigns After His Ex-Wife Exposed His Racist Text Messages in Divorce Filing (original) (raw)

Nationwide — Michael Austin Kennedy, a father of two and Arkansas state trooper, resigned after divorce filings revealed racist messages he allegedly sent to his wife. The text messages showed extremist views and triggered internal scrutiny before his departure from the Arkansas State Police.

Kennedy’s wife, Alana, filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage and asked for sole custody of their two children. She submitted the text messages as evidence, arguing they reflected a harmful environment at home.

In court documents, Alana described the messages as containing racial slurs and extremist statements. She said Kennedy repeatedly targeted Black people, immigrants, Muslims, and women in angry and unprompted rants.

According to the New York Post, the filings also alleged Kennedy supported extreme positions, including banning Muslims from the United States and repealing women’s right to vote. He also frequently blamed minority groups for everyday problems and random incidents.

Alana further accused Kennedy of misusing his role as a state trooper. She said he sent her selfies posing with detained Hispanic individuals and referred to them as “trophies,” raising concerns about professional misconduct.

In one exchange included in the filings, Kennedy blamed immigrants for traffic delays and used racist language when discussing Black communities and city issues. Alana said their children were also afraid of his behavior and frequent outbursts.

Kennedy resigned from the Arkansas State Police on May 15, weeks after the divorce case became public. In a filing on May 21, he admitted sending the messages but said they were from earlier years and claimed he had since sought therapy and spiritual guidance.

Alana requested that any visitation be limited unless Kennedy completes a parenting course focused on addressing prejudice. The court documents also noted that his father, Lt. Col. Mike Kennedy, serves as deputy director of the Arizona State Police.