Interim police chief in Ferguson resigns early

In this Oct. 28, 2015 file photo, Interim Ferguson, Mo., Police Chief Andre Anderson, right, talks with people in Normandy, Mo. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File)
In this Oct. 28, 2015 file photo, Interim Ferguson, Mo., Police Chief Andre Anderson, right, talks with people in Normandy, Mo. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File)

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ The interim police chief in Ferguson is leaving the post about two months earlier than expected, citing a desire to return to his family, city officials said Friday.
Andre Anderson, a 50-year-old Black man with 25 years of law enforcement experience, was hired in July on a six-month appointment, after the St. Louis suburb’s police force came under fire over the fatal shooting of an unarmed, Black 18-year-old in August last year.
City spokesman Jeff Small said Anderson submitted his resignation effective Dec. 2.
Anderson, who has previously expressed interest in becoming Ferguson’s permanent chief, declined an Associated Press request for an interview Friday.
In coming to Ferguson, Anderson left “a much higher paying job, children, and his wife and other family members behind,” and he feels he’s needed back home, Small said. Anderson will return to his job as commander of the police department in Glendale, Arizona, Small said.
Ferguson is still looking for a permanent chief. A new interim chief has not yet been named.
The former chief, Tom Jackson, resigned in March after a U.S. Department of Justice report criticized police and court practices in the wake of the killing of Michael Brown on Aug. 9, 2014. Both the Justice Department and a St. Louis County grand jury declined to prosecute Ferguson officer Darren Wilson in the death. But the shooting helped spur the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Wilson resigned a year ago.
Mayor James Knowles III lauded Anderson’s “exceptional and innovative” work in Ferguson. He was credited with starting a Community Engagement Team, launching meetings with community members to discuss crime-fighting strategies, and implementing other outreach and transparency efforts.
Anderson said in a statement Friday that his top goal was to regain the trust of Ferguson residents.
“Many of our policing initiatives that have been implemented over the past few months will build a stronger relationship between the department and Ferguson residents,” he said.
Earlier this week, a permanent city manager was hired to replace Ferguson’s interim city manager, Ed Beasley. Beasley was the former city manager in Glendale and recommended hiring Anderson as interim chief.

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