Citing Threats, Ferguson Cop Darren Wilson Resigns

He's been cleared of criminal charges, but officer Darren Wilson won't be collecting his paycheck from the Ferguson police force anymore. The 28-year-old said today that's he's resigning "of my own free will" because he's worried about renewed violence should he remain on the force, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow," his resignation letter reads. "It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal."

The resignation, which comes nearly four months after Wilson shot Michael Brown to death, is effective immediately, reports AP. Wilson says he does not have a severance deal but didn't rule out future talks on that. An attorney for Brown's family didn't think much of the move. “It's probably in his best interest to sever his ties with the Ferguson community, as well as the Ferguson police department," says Anthony Gray. "I think this incident has severely compromised his ability to police in the way he was paid to do by the city.” (The newly married Wilson will soon be a father.)