Ferguson mayor: ‘We must do better’

by Ben Kamisar - 03/04/15 7:22 PM ET

Ferguson Mayor James Knowles announced Wednesday afternoon that the city’s police department has fired one officer and put two others on leave.

The announcement came hours after a Department of Justice report that highlighted a broader pattern of discriminatory practices by police and found that the officers had sent racist emails.

{mosads}“These actions are in no way representative of the city of Ferguson. Today’s report allows the city of Ferguson to identify the problems,” Knowles said in a brief news conference.

“We must do better, not only as a city but as a state and country.”

Knowles listed a number of steps that the city’s police and government have taken since a police officer shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in an altercation. All officers have already completed mandatory diversity training, and the city has launched what Knowles called a “groundbreaking” police oversight task force that includes residents, business leaders and law enforcement officials.

The Justice Department’s report found that black residents were disproportionately stopped by police officers for both major and minor crimes. It also announced Wednesday that it would not charge former officer Darren Wilson with civil rights violations connected to Brown’s death.

Knowles had been expected to appear with the city’s police chief, but he instead spoke alone. The mayor took no questions from the media.

Brown’s death sparked nationwide protests and calls to address an alleged pattern of racial discrimination by police officers. At a press conference Wednesday, members of the Congressional Black Caucus portrayed the report as more proof of that pattern.

Tags Ferguson Missouri