Ferguson interim police chief fed up with how protesters treat officers

The interim Ferguson Police chief Tuesday said he was fed up with the way his officers, especially his African-American cops are being treated by protesters. He said black officers in Ferguson, as well as others who helped in the community in recent months, have been targeted for attack by protesters more that white cops are.

The interim chief was upset about a video that is now hotly debated on the internet. Chief Alan Eickhoff said, “I was disgusted.” The video shows a Ferguson police officer responding to a disturbance call at a McDonald’s restaurant. When the officer arrived things were calming down and then the chief said the crowd saw the black officer and began name calling. Some protesters threw bottles at him.

Chief Eickhoff said, “Why are they still saying these are peaceful protests when anybody who watches that tape can see this is not a peaceful protest.”

Chief Eickhoff said the black cops seem to get singled out on the skirmish lines and they are aggressively the targets of demeaning language. Eickhoff added, “We have a lot of outside forces still coming to Ferguson while we are trying to heal the community they’re trying to tear the community apart.”

At Tuesday night’s council meeting citizens told me it’s to respect each other. Resident Anthony Randell said, “I don’t like any negativity in that derogatory name calling ain’t getting nowhere in the conversation.” Denise Hopple said, “Everyone is the same you shouldn’t be calling people names I was brought up that way.”

Also, at the meeting they appointed Pam Hylton interim city manager. The former city manager resigned after the department of justice report was released.