- 1,387
- 1,186
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2013
http://online.wsj.com/articles/darr...partment-1417305478?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories
FERGUSON, Mo.—The white police officer who shot to death a black teen last summer and avoided criminal prosecution this week has resigned from the police force, his lawyer said Saturday evening.
The resignation comes after almost four months of largely peaceful protests interrupted at times by violent clashes with police, widespread looting and destructive arson in this St. Louis suburb.
Officer Darren Wilson wrote in his resignation letter that he was “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.”
Mr. Wilson, 28 years old, said “for obvious reasons,” he wished to wait until a local countygrand jury reached its decision not to indict him on Monday before leaving the police department. His actions on Aug. 9 sparked impassioned nationwide debates over whether Mr. Wilson had acted too aggressively in gunning down teenager Michael Brown he had detained during a routine stop that turned violent. Mr. Wilson argued in grand jury testimony he acted to protect himself while other witnesses said Mr. Brown had his arms raised before he was shot fatally.
“It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community is of paramount importance to me,” Mr. Wilson wrote. “It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal. I would like to thank all of my supporters and fellow officers throughout this process.”
There is still a civil rights probe by the Justice Department into Mr. Brown’s death and into whether the city’s police department may have unfairly targeted African-Americans. In a television interview this week, Mr. Wilson maintained his innocence, saying he knows he did his job correctly.
City officials had no immediate comment on the resignation following Mr. Wilson’s administrative leave since the Aug. 9 shooting. “No one in the city of Ferguson has a resignation letter in hand,” Mayor James Knowles said Saturday evening.
Fury over a lack of an indictment against Mr. Wilson boiled over Monday night, as protesters set police cruisers on fire, smashed windows and looted stores, while police responded by firing nonlethal munitions and tear gas at the crowds. By morning, more than 20 businesses were burned and more than 60 people were arrested.
Many of the buildings now sit as charred shells along one of Ferguson’s main commercial strips still closed to traffic at night due to security concerns.
The death of the 18-year-old Mr. Brown in August became a national flash point on race, justice and policing and the region faced weeks of protests that turned violent at times this summer. It was unclear whether Mr. Wilson’s resignation would help subside protests that have closed some local roads and shopping centers during one of the busiest holiday weekends.
—Ben Kesling contributed to this article.
Write to Matthew Dolan at [email protected]
The resignation comes after almost four months of largely peaceful protests interrupted at times by violent clashes with police, widespread looting and destructive arson in this St. Louis suburb.
Officer Darren Wilson wrote in his resignation letter that he was “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.”
Mr. Wilson, 28 years old, said “for obvious reasons,” he wished to wait until a local countygrand jury reached its decision not to indict him on Monday before leaving the police department. His actions on Aug. 9 sparked impassioned nationwide debates over whether Mr. Wilson had acted too aggressively in gunning down teenager Michael Brown he had detained during a routine stop that turned violent. Mr. Wilson argued in grand jury testimony he acted to protect himself while other witnesses said Mr. Brown had his arms raised before he was shot fatally.
“It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community is of paramount importance to me,” Mr. Wilson wrote. “It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal. I would like to thank all of my supporters and fellow officers throughout this process.”
There is still a civil rights probe by the Justice Department into Mr. Brown’s death and into whether the city’s police department may have unfairly targeted African-Americans. In a television interview this week, Mr. Wilson maintained his innocence, saying he knows he did his job correctly.
City officials had no immediate comment on the resignation following Mr. Wilson’s administrative leave since the Aug. 9 shooting. “No one in the city of Ferguson has a resignation letter in hand,” Mayor James Knowles said Saturday evening.
Fury over a lack of an indictment against Mr. Wilson boiled over Monday night, as protesters set police cruisers on fire, smashed windows and looted stores, while police responded by firing nonlethal munitions and tear gas at the crowds. By morning, more than 20 businesses were burned and more than 60 people were arrested.
Many of the buildings now sit as charred shells along one of Ferguson’s main commercial strips still closed to traffic at night due to security concerns.
The death of the 18-year-old Mr. Brown in August became a national flash point on race, justice and policing and the region faced weeks of protests that turned violent at times this summer. It was unclear whether Mr. Wilson’s resignation would help subside protests that have closed some local roads and shopping centers during one of the busiest holiday weekends.
—Ben Kesling contributed to this article.
Write to Matthew Dolan at [email protected]
