Just days before the anniversary of the tragic killing of 18 year-old Mike Brown, the city of Ferguson announced they have hired new, black interim police chief.Andre Anderson who previously served as a commander with the Glendale Police Department in Arizona, was appointed Wednesday morning along with new city manager Ed Beasly by the city’s mayor.
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The former police chief, Thomas Jackson resigned just a few months after the death of Mike Brown and the city has not had one since. As of now, Anderson will serve as the police chief and has taken a six-month leave from his Glendale position. Although it’s unclear how long he will remain in Ferguson, he expressed his concern and dedication to making the city better. He said, “Everything I do right now, day to day, will be about the community and the police officers,” he added, “I believe I am the right person for this particular job.”
Ferguson’s mayor James Knowles, admitted it was not easy to find a new police chief for the city. He said “The City of Ferguson and our police department have endured a tremendous amount of distrust during the past nine months, we understand that it will take time to once again gain the trust of everyone.”
Andre Anderson is a U.S. Army veteran from Philadelphia. He was an amateur boxer until he was hit by a car and severely injured while he changed a tire along an Arizona highway in 1988. He served as a prison corrections officer prior to joining the department in Glendale, Arizona in 1991.
Source NYDailyNews
