Darren Wilson lawyer talks about his future in policing
One day after Darren Wilson resigned from the Ferguson Police Department, city officials say he's receiving no severance. His attorney says the resignation was prompted by safety concerns, while protesters on the streets say his departure has left them unmoved.
Officer Darren Wilson started negotiations to leave the Ferguson Police Department the day after the grand jury announced that he would not be indicted in the case of the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown. Wilson made his final decision Saturday after a phone call from Ferguson's police chief, according to Neil Bruntrager. Wilson's attorney says he was with him when Wilson received the call.
"They got some intelligence that there were going to be some targets at the Ferguson Police Department," said Bruntrager. "And the minute he said that, he also indicated that his resignation might alleviate some of those threats."
By "targets," Bruntrager meant there was reason to believe "it was going to be violent (in) nature."
In his resignation statement, Wilson said: "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. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal."
Overnight, news of the resignation did little to quiet the smaller but still vocal group of protesters outside the Ferguson police department.
"You took somebody's life...they took your job. You can go find another job. You can't get the life back," shouted one protester.
Michael Brown's parents appeared at a church service Sunday with Reverend Al Sharpton, who called Wilson's resignation irrelevant to the protests.
"It was not about Darren Wilson's job, it was about Michael Brown's justice," said Sharpton.
A show of solidarity with the Ferguson protesters even made it to the football field today when a few St. Louis Rams players entered the stadium with raised arms.
It's become a symbol of the Ferguson protesters' chant, "hands up, don't shoot."
Attorney Bruntrager said Wilson knows the controversy that cost him his career will follow him, and made it hard for him to consider a return to police work.
"I don't think he's ruled that out, but I think its unlikely and I think he realizes that," said Bruntrager. "He would become a lightning rod for activity and that's not what he wants to do."
Wilson's attorney said in the phone call, Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson never used the word resignation. According to the attorney, Wilson's decision was his alone.