Ferguson officer could return to duty if no indictment

The police chief explained that Wilson would be fired if indicted but officials have not decided if Wilson can return to work

Ferguson officials haven’t decided whether the officer who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown will be able to return to work if he is not indicted by the grand jury.

{mosads}A grand jury has been hearing testimony on unspecified criminal charges, relating to Darren Wilson’s shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager last August, an incident that sparked violent riots across the St. Louis suburb.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, police chief Thomas Jackson said on Saturday that “Mr. Wilson will be fired if indicted by grand jury and that the city has yet to decide if Mr. Wilson will return to normal duty if not indicted.”

Jackson had to clarify comments made on Friday to local press in which he suggested that Mr. Wilson would be permitted to return to work if not indicted.

The police chief’s clarification indicates apprehension felt by officials preparing the city for a grand jury decision.

The police chief explained that Wilson would be fired if indicted but officials have not decided if Wilson can return to work if a grand jury does not indict him.

Ferguson’s mayor also said on Friday that the city was conducting its own administrative investigation of the shooting before deciding whether Wilson can return to work.