Citing government officials Tuesday night, CNN reporter Evan Perez reported Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson would be stepping down.
See Video: Ferguson Police: 6-Year Veteran Shot Michael Brown
15 minutes later, a St. Louis Dispatch reporter who spoke with Chief Jackson gave his response.
Chief Tom Jackson tells me he has not been fired nor has he resigned. He says @cnn reports are completely wrong
— Christine Byers (@ChristineDByers) October 29, 2014
Jackson said if he ever resigns it will be his decision
— Christine Byers (@ChristineDByers) October 29, 2014
And the Ferguson Police Department also denied CNN’s report.
Ferguson Chief says he has not resigned, He has not been told to resign. He has not been fired. If he leaves, it will be his choice alone.
— Ferguson Police Dept (@FPD_PUBLIC_INFO) October 29, 2014
Also read: Ferguson Sued for $40 Million for Response to Protests
Jackson also denied his resignation to Perez via phone: “Nobody in my chain of command has asked me to resign, nor have I been terminated,” he said.
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles also denied the story to CNN: “People have been saying that for months, I mean for him to step down. But we’ve stood by him this entire time. So there is no change on that.”
Also read: Missouri Governor Declares State of Emergency, Imposes Curfew in Ferguson Amid Ongoing Protests
The Ferguson Police Department has been maligned since the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown at the hands of officer Darren Wilson. Chief Jackson was one of the officials named in a $40 million dollar federal lawsuit filed by five individuals against the Ferguson Police Department for excessive force during the Ferguson protests that waged for weeks following Brown’s death.