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Ferguson police chief apologises for delay in moving Michael Brown's body Ferguson police chief 'truly sorry' for delay in moving Michael Brown's body
(about 2 hours later)
The police chief in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, has apologised to the family of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old whose fatal shooting by a city officer last month led to days of intense unrest.The police chief in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, has apologised to the family of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old whose fatal shooting by a city officer last month led to days of intense unrest.
Chief Thomas Jackson said in a video statement that he regretted the fact that Brown’s body was left for four hours in the street where he was shot dead by officer Darren Wilson after an altercation that followed Brown and a friend being stopped for jaywalking.Chief Thomas Jackson said in a video statement that he regretted the fact that Brown’s body was left for four hours in the street where he was shot dead by officer Darren Wilson after an altercation that followed Brown and a friend being stopped for jaywalking.
“I want to say this to the Brown family: no one who has not experienced the loss of a child can understand what you are feeling,” Jackson said in the statement. “I’m truly sorry for the loss of your son. I’m also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street.“I want to say this to the Brown family: no one who has not experienced the loss of a child can understand what you are feeling,” Jackson said in the statement. “I’m truly sorry for the loss of your son. I’m also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street.
“The time that it took involved very important work on the part of investigators, who were trying to collect important evidence and gain a true picture of what happened that day. But it was just too long, and I am truly sorry for that.”“The time that it took involved very important work on the part of investigators, who were trying to collect important evidence and gain a true picture of what happened that day. But it was just too long, and I am truly sorry for that.”
Jackson, who has come under intense pressure to resign over the crisis in Ferguson, stressed that the police “meant no disrespect to the Brown family, to the African American community, or the people of Canfield,” the housing complex where he was killed.Jackson, who has come under intense pressure to resign over the crisis in Ferguson, stressed that the police “meant no disrespect to the Brown family, to the African American community, or the people of Canfield,” the housing complex where he was killed.
In concluding his two-and-a-half minute statement, which was distributed on Thursday by a private public relations firm recruited by the city to help improve its image, Jackson said: “I deeply apologise to the Brown family.”In concluding his two-and-a-half minute statement, which was distributed on Thursday by a private public relations firm recruited by the city to help improve its image, Jackson said: “I deeply apologise to the Brown family.”
Brown’s death on 9 August led to more than a week of protests in the city, a small suburb to the north of St Louis. Demonstrators and police clashed repeatedly. The militarised police presence, which saw people teargassed and shot with rubber bullets, was sharply criticised.Brown’s death on 9 August led to more than a week of protests in the city, a small suburb to the north of St Louis. Demonstrators and police clashed repeatedly. The militarised police presence, which saw people teargassed and shot with rubber bullets, was sharply criticised.
Jackson also apologised in his statement on Thursday to demonstrators who felt “upset and angry” at being repressed. “I want to say to any peaceful protester who did not feel that I did enough to protect their constitutional right to protest: I am sorry for that,” said Jackson.Jackson also apologised in his statement on Thursday to demonstrators who felt “upset and angry” at being repressed. “I want to say to any peaceful protester who did not feel that I did enough to protect their constitutional right to protest: I am sorry for that,” said Jackson.
Many Ferguson residents said that the killing of Brown exposed longstanding problems in relations between police and much of the population. While about two-thirds of Ferguson residents are black, 94% of Ferguson’s police force is white, as are all top city officials.Many Ferguson residents said that the killing of Brown exposed longstanding problems in relations between police and much of the population. While about two-thirds of Ferguson residents are black, 94% of Ferguson’s police force is white, as are all top city officials.
Figures compiled by Missouri’s attorney general last year found that black residents were far more likely to be stopped in their cars by police than white drivers, despite searches of white drivers turning up more illegal items.Figures compiled by Missouri’s attorney general last year found that black residents were far more likely to be stopped in their cars by police than white drivers, despite searches of white drivers turning up more illegal items.
Other residents complained that poor, mostly African American households had in recent years been bombarded with traffic fines and other minor penalties that were used to fund the city bureaucracy. The outcry prompted city officials earlier this month to cap the proportion of their budget that could come from court penalties at roughly the rate expected for this year.Other residents complained that poor, mostly African American households had in recent years been bombarded with traffic fines and other minor penalties that were used to fund the city bureaucracy. The outcry prompted city officials earlier this month to cap the proportion of their budget that could come from court penalties at roughly the rate expected for this year.
Jackson said in his statement that he recognised “that we have much work to do” in repairing relations, adding: “For any mistakes I have made, I take full responsibility.”Jackson said in his statement that he recognised “that we have much work to do” in repairing relations, adding: “For any mistakes I have made, I take full responsibility.”
“I’m also aware of the pain and the feeling of mistrust felt in some of the African American community towards the police department,” he said. “The city belongs to all of us, and we are all part of this community.”“I’m also aware of the pain and the feeling of mistrust felt in some of the African American community towards the police department,” he said. “The city belongs to all of us, and we are all part of this community.”
Brown’s death is being investigated by county authorities, who are feeding evidence as it is collected to a grand jury considering whether criminal charges should be brought against Wilson. The officer, who is on paid leave, is reported to have testified at length to the jury.Brown’s death is being investigated by county authorities, who are feeding evidence as it is collected to a grand jury considering whether criminal charges should be brought against Wilson. The officer, who is on paid leave, is reported to have testified at length to the jury.
Bob McCulloch, the St Louis County prosecuting attorney, said in a rare interview on Thursday that he expected the grand jury’s deliberations to last until the end of next month or early November.Bob McCulloch, the St Louis County prosecuting attorney, said in a rare interview on Thursday that he expected the grand jury’s deliberations to last until the end of next month or early November.
McCulloch has also faced pressure to stand down. Protesters have pointed out that his father, who was a white police officer, was shot dead by a black man when McCulloch was 12 years old.McCulloch has also faced pressure to stand down. Protesters have pointed out that his father, who was a white police officer, was shot dead by a black man when McCulloch was 12 years old.
“I lost a loved one to violence,” he told the Washington Post on Thursday. “The pain was because I lost my father. It didn’t matter that he was an officer … It shaped my life. If anything, it made me a strong advocate for the victims of violence.”“I lost a loved one to violence,” he told the Washington Post on Thursday. “The pain was because I lost my father. It didn’t matter that he was an officer … It shaped my life. If anything, it made me a strong advocate for the victims of violence.”
The US Department of Justice and the FBI are also carrying out a separate inquiry into Brown’s death. They will consider whether Brown’s civil rights were breached and if federal criminal charges would be appropriate.The US Department of Justice and the FBI are also carrying out a separate inquiry into Brown’s death. They will consider whether Brown’s civil rights were breached and if federal criminal charges would be appropriate.