Ferguson police chief resigns

KANSAS CITY — The police chief of Ferguson, Missouri, resigned on Wednesday, following a scathing U.S. Justice Department report that found widespread racially biased abuses in the city’s police department and municipal court.

The resignation of Chief Thomas Jackson, which the city announced in a brief statement, is the latest in a string of departures since the findings of the Justice Department probe were announced on March 4.

Protesters had called for Jackson’s removal since the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white Ferguson police officer on Aug. 9. The killing triggered protests in cities around the country and widespread complaints of mistreatment of blacks by police.

Neither a grand jury proceeding nor the federal probe led to any charges against Darren Wilson, the officer involved in the shooting.

Jackson’s departure follows that of Ferguson City Manager John Shaw, who resigned on Tuesday, and Municipal Judge Ronald Brockmeyer, who quit on Monday. Three other employees of the police department and municipal court left their jobs last week due to the Justice Department report.

Jackson has commanded the police department since he was appointed by the city manager in 2010. The department has a total of 54 sworn officers divided among several divisions.

His departure is effective March 19 and he leaves with a severance payment and health insurance for one year.