Share MediaShow Caption NATION Ferguson mayor: No severance pay for Wilson John Bacon, USA TODAY 1 hour ago Facebook Twitter Google Plus more The white police officer who resigned almost four months after fatally shooting a black teen, setting off months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson, Mo., was not asked to leave — but its best that we continue to move on as a community, Mayor James Knowles said Sunday. Knowles said Darren Wilson, who was earning about $45,000 a year, was given no severance when he resigned Saturday, effective immediately. Wilson, 28, had been on paid administrative leave since shooting Michael Brown, 18, following a brief confrontation on a Ferguson street Aug. 9. Getty Images Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown in August, officially resigned Nov. 29, 2014, from the Ferguson Police Department. A St. Louis County grand jury declined Nov. 24 to indict Wilson on any charges in Browns death, sparking more protests. Knowles said at a news conference Sunday that the city of 21,000 will take a series of steps aimed at increasing minority representation on its police force: -- Fund police academy scholarships. Recipients will be required to work on the Ferguson force for at least two years after graduation. -- Increase the stipend for officers living in the city to $300 per month, up from $100. -- Start a police explorer program in the schools to give students a chance to meet and interact with police officers in a friendly setting. -- Create a citizen review board, which will advise and review operations of the Ferguson police department. The board will be made up of citizens not involved in government currently. All but a handful of the citys more than 50 police officers are white, though the city is predominantly black. We are committed to rebuilding the city and to once again become a thriving community for economic development and residential stability, Knowles said. Wilson said threats directed at the department fueled concern that staying on the force might have put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. 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, Wilson said in his resignation letter. USA TODAY Ferguson a defining moment for race relations in USA USA TODAY Ferguson protesters lead Time magazines Person of the Year ballot It was always believed that the police officer would do what was in his best interest, both personally and professionally, said Benjamin Crump, a lawyer representing Browns family. We didnt believe that he would be able to be effective for the Ferguson community nor the Ferguson Police Department. Rev. Al Sharpton, who spoke at a church service Browns parents attended Sunday, issued a statement saying, We were not after Wilsons job. We were after Michael Browns justice. Patricia Bynes, a Democratic committeewoman in Ferguson, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the resignation was too little, too late. It doesnt even have the same impact that it would have months ago, she said. It would have relieved a lot of anger and the pressure in the streets Bynes tweeted this: The reality is that after all that has happened Wilson is a tiny drop in a big bucket. We have much bigger fish to fry. Scores of protesters demonstrated outside Ferguson police headquarters Saturday night. An American flag was burned and two people were arrested. But the gathering lacked the furious outrage that marked the first nights after the grand jury announced that Wilson would not face charges. Protester Deray McKesson tweeted: Darren Wilson is not in jail, as he should be. His resignation is not enough, his resignation is important but not justice. Not far from the protest, resident Victoria Rutherford said she believed Wilsons resignation was not enough, that he should have been convicted of a crime. Im upset. I have a 16-year-old son. (Michael Brown) couldve been him. I feel that he was absolutely in the wrong, she said. Ferguson resident Reed Voorhees was supportive of Wilson, saying he hoped Wilson could find similar work someplace where he would enjoy life, and move on with his life. Wilson recently married Ferguson officer Barbara Spradling, and the couple is expecting a child. Wilsons lawyer, Neil Bruntrager, said Wilson left after police Chief Tom Jackson told him that people had threatened violence against officers. In terms of what (the resignation) means, it means at this point he doesnt have a paycheck, Bruntrager said. He has no income so hell have to make some decisions pretty quickly. Wilsons decision to leave the force drew ire on social media from across the nation and around the globe, even among people who were glad to see him gone. Sonia Faleiro, a New Delhi journalist, tweeted: Only in America: killer escapes jail time, quits job, demands severance package. But others wished Wilson well. Tweeted @jbrownlee from Peoria, Ariz.: I wish #DarrenWilson the best in his next endeavor! God bless you and your wife! #DarrenWilsonResigns Victor Warden of South Carolina tweeted: Shameful that #Darren Wilson, a good officer, resigns bcuz of the racist and hateful actions of ppl who want justice 4 a criminal!
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:58:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015