Darren Wilson resigns from Ferguson PD, wants the community to heal

buzzz worthy. . .


Officer Darren Wilson (l); Michael Brown (r)

By Mona Austin

Officer Darren Wilson resigned from the Ferguson Police Department (FPD) on Saturday.  According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wilson was informed the department had received threats of violence  if he remained and he did not want to endanger the force or the public.

"I'm not willing to let someone else get hurt because of me," Wilson shared the St. Louis newspaper Saturday.

Continuing, the officer who had served on the FBD  for nearly three years wrote: "I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. For obvious reasons, I wanted to wait until the grand jury made their decision before I officially made my decision to resign. It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community are of paramount importance to me. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal."

Wilson was placed on Administrative Leave in early August for the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.  Several eye-witnesses said the deceased hands were raised in surrender when he was shot seven times, one bullet entering at the apex of the head, which Attorney Benjamin Crump (Civil Rights advocate and Attorney for slain teen Trayvon Martin) described as the "kill shot." The teen's exposed body lay on a Ferguson street for four hours witnesses said.  Wilson testified before a grand jury that Brown charged toward him and attempted to take his gun.  The officer said he shot the unarmed teen because he feared for his own life, a decision he told ABC's George Stephanopolous he stands by.  Last Monday the grand jury decided to forego Wilson's  indictment, prompting nationwide protests. Talks of resignation were in the works before the verdict was rendered, hinging on whether or not Wilson was formally charged.

So far the streets of Ferguson have been calm following the announcement of Wilson's resignation.  Despite news that the officer has stepped down, protests are expected to continue. 

Outgoing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the U.S. Justice Department will aggressively continue its civil rights investigation into the shooting and conduct  a separate investigation to look into the protocol and practices of the FPD. 

Popular Posts