Ferguson officer who shot Michael Brown resigns

[DonViejo]

Source: Washington Post


The white police officer who killed Michael Brown has resigned from the Ferguson Police Department, nearly four months after the confrontation that fueled protests in the St. Louis suburb and across the nation, the Associated Press reports.

Darren Wilson has been on administrative leave since the Aug. 9 shooting. His resignation was announced Saturday by one of his attorneys, Neil Bruntrager. Bruntrager says the resignation is effective immediately.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ferguson-officer-who-shot-michael-brown-resigns/2014/11/29/807b8064-7820-11e4-8893-97bf0c02cc5f_story.html?wpisrc=al_national

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Everybody has the breaking going now

Last edited Sat Nov 29, 2014, 08:57 PM - Edit history (1)

First saw it on USA Today's website when I was looking for something else and just got a NYT banner.

I expect he will be relocating as well.

[Plucketeer]

2. Like he could ever effectively work there again! nt

[Raul Hernandez]

3. Civil suit and federal grand jury indictments

will be handed down.

Wilson better not flee with the money he illegally earned.

[JudyM]

8. He'll get plenty of money from his inevitable book deal. n/t

[jmowreader]

19. I didn't realize Regnery's advances were that generous

And seriously, who ELSE would publish a book purportedly by a white cop whose claim to fame is blowing away a black kid for no reason whatsoever?

[branford]

10. What federal grand jury?

Everything I've read and my knowledge as an attorney about the difficulty of proving federal charges, including the DOJ leaks, indicate that a federal criminal civil rights prosecution against Wilson is all but impossible. I've also not seen anything to indicate that a federal grand jury has even been impaneled.

A civil suit is a much greater possibility. However, Wilson likely has qualified immunity, will not have to testify in a civil trial if a federal indictment is still a possibility, and in any event, the town's insurance police will pay for his defense and indemnify him against any award. If the Brown family wins a civil lawsuit, the only people who would have to pay are the insurance carrier, and if the award is large enough, the citizens of Ferguson, who mostly minority and poor.

Lastly, Wilson can travel, including of the country, as he so chooses. He is not under indictment and has no travel restrictions. Further, what money has he "illegally" earned?

[Oktober]

12. Civil suits are covered by the city...

Federal charges are currently sitting at snowball's chance in hell levels.

[GGJohn]

20. Wilson can't be sued civilly for Brown's death,

and what federal grand jury?
What money did he illegally earn?

[uppityperson]

4. Gee, poor guy. Hasn't he suffered enough? Like poor Zimmy, gaining wt and all?

Severe

[Live and Learn]

5. Of course he did, now they are forced to wear cameras.

He wouldn't want that. No doubt he will file for a disability retirement and get it.

[Aristus]

6. Don't be so sure.

The police department and his racist civilian supporters didn't mind propping him up when it didn't cost them anything. They might balk at an early retirement at public expense, though. Even though he isn't black.

[peacebird]

17. "Even though he isn't black." ? Why is that on your comment?

I don't get it?

[Aristus]

22. Right-winger always despise any sort of public expense that might benefit black people.

Or any people who aren't white. That's what I meant.

[peacebird]

24. ah, thank you! Now i get it!

[jmowreader]

21. They did balk at it, sir

He's not getting a severance package.

[Aristus]

23. Good.

So there's at least a little justice in the world.

[Cryptoad]

7. Going into politics?,,,,nt

[czarjak]

9. Can't a Klansman just do his job?

Last edited Sun Nov 30, 2014, 02:50 AM - Edit history (1)

"Leave Darren alone."

[Cha]

11. Yeah, I wonder why? :( Mahalo Don :(

[Uponthegears]

13. Another possibility

I tend to agree that the chances of a federal indictment are zero and Wilson will never have to pay a cent in civil damages out of his own pocket. There is, however, a couple of things to keep in mind. First, if you look at the evidence presented to the grand jury, there are witnesses whose testimony is totally consistent with the physical evidence who stated that Wilson shot Brown while his hands were up. There is also a version of the initial encounter that is consistent with both the physical evidence and with guilt. In other words, there is enough evidence for an honest prosecutor to get an indictment. Second, a grand jury proceeding is not a trial and no jeopardy attaches. You can convene a hundred grand juries if that's what it takes to get an indictment. In fact, it happens all the time in other cases. If Jay Nixon were to summon up enough intestinal fortitude to appoint a special prosecutor, Wilson could still face state murder charges. Instead of putting pressure on Holder (or his successor), put it on the guy who can actually produce results.

[Cosmocat]

14. Unfortunate, but

Wilson was a an incompetent twit, who escalated this situation and like Zimmerman ended up having to kill this kid when he started something that he couldn't finish short of it.

That said, they have made it murky enough, and without Brown speaking for himself, it is not even close to a sure bet that it could be prosecuted if someone tried it legitimately.

That said ... There is nothing good from Nixon's standpoint to press the issue on this. Doing this again would keep things at a high level of intensity and very much leave the potential for similar rioting and community unrest.

Brown is a tragedy and he deserves justice. But, it is pretty clear that he won't get it, and Nixon has a responsibility to his state and his residents that by far lends to letting this unfortunate situation pass vs doing something that would keep this communities in unrest and tension.

[Demsrule86]

15. We lost because of this attitude

The idea that a life is less important than a so called responsibility to a city or state is abhorrent and why Democrats despite a really positive change in demographics are on the ropes. Many people of color are being broken window policed out of any chance to vote...Ferguson with three warrants for every household clearly shows that...now why should people of color vote for Dems who betray them? Also, just how many Blacks will be able to vote if the broken window policing which directly targets the poor and minorities is not ended? Democrats have a responsibility to do what is right...and Nixon and the sorry excuse for a DA both failed and both are Democrats.

[Cosmocat]

18. ugh, no

There are 10s of thousands of blacks in that community that have had their lives threated, their businesses ransacked, their homes damaged, because of this situation.

Save the indignation thing.

What happened here pisses me off to no end, and I have battled with people over this shit since it happened.

But, Brown is not going to get justice for his death, it just is not going to happen.

The community has been ripped about it once with no positive outcome, Nixon would be beyond irresponsible to expose it to a repeat of the violence, damage and turmoil to the community on extraordinarily outside chance that Wilson will be held accountable in any way.

There are few blacks who LIVE there that are going to want a repeat of this.

[FLPanhandle]

16. I don't think Wilson would be convicted in a trial but the community deserves a trial.

Getting a manslaughter indictment should be a piece of cake.