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Ferguson Police Chief Resigns; 2 Officers Shot
FERGUSON, MO --- Embat- tled Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson resigned Wednesday, a week after a scathing Justice Department re- port slammed his department.
Police Chief Jackson and the city "have agreed to a mutual separation," Ferguson officials announced.
He also confirmed his resig- nation in a letter to Ferguson's mayor.
"It is with profound sadness that I am announcing I am step- ping down from my position as chief of police for the city of Fer- guson, Missouri," Jackson said, adding that serving the city as police chief "has been an honor and a privilege."
The resignation will go into effect March 19, Jackson said, to "provide for an orderly transi- tion of command."
Jackson will receive a sever- ance payment and health insur- ance for one year, the city said, with Lt. Col. Al Eickhoff as- suming his duties during a na- tionwide search for a new chief.
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles said he couldn't go into details about the personnel discussions behind the decision to give Jackson a year of sever- ance pay.
FERGUSON POLICE CHIEF THOMAS JACKSON
Knowles said the police chief decided to resign "after a lot of soul searching."
Protests Erupt Again
Hours after the announce- ment, protesters gathered out- side the Ferguson Police Department.
Two police officers were shot outside the Ferguson Police De- partment early Thursday as pro- testers gathered following the resignation. Neither officer was from the Ferguson Police Dept. They were from other agencies that were assisting the Ferguson police since the shooting of Michael Brown since last Au- gust.
The shots were fired as what had earlier been a crowd of about 150 people had begun to
dwindle, the newspaper re- ported. Some protesters fell to the ground and others ran. A huge police presence, including officers in riot gear, later sur- rounded the department. String Of Resignations
Jackson's resignation is the latest fallout from the Justice Department report, which ex- posed problems in the city's policing tactics and faulted Fer- guson's officers for seeing resi- dents as "sources of revenue," a practice that federal investiga- tors said disproportionately tar- geted African-Americans.
The investigators also found evidence of racist jokes being sent around by Ferguson police and court officials.
Hungry Howie’s Burglars Sought
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a busi- ness burglary that occurred at Hungry Howies, 8802 Rock Creek Drive.
On March 1st at 2 a. m., deputies said two men entered the busi- ness by prying the door open. After gaining entry, the suspects re- portedly cut into the safe and took the store’s deposit. The suspects then fled.
Authorities believe the same two men are also suspected of en- tering the Papa John’s Pizza at 8747 Waters Avenue on March 9th between 4 and 8 a. m.
The suspects are described as Hispanic Black males, one wearing eye glasses with a full mustache, and the other with short dark hair and a full mustache.
Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to cal (813) 247-8200.
Armed police after shots fired.
Tip Leads To Grand Theft Arrest
As a result of information on a tip line, St. Petersburg Police reported that two suspects have been identified and arrested in regards to a grand theft of men’s clothing from Macy’s Depart- ment Store at Tyrone Mall.
Quabreshe Dearkka Long, 18, and a 17-year-old male were both charged with grand theft in the case.
On March 3rd, surveillance footage was released of a man and woman who came into Macy’s and stole men’s cloth- ing off the rack valued at $500. The theft occurred at 7 p. m. on February 8th.
QUABRESHE DEARKKA LONG
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