Embattled Ferguson chief criticizes Holder remarks

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — The embattled police chief of the suburban St. Louis town where a white officer’s fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old remains under investigation has criticized Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent call for “wholesale change” in the department.

Ferguson chief Tom Jackson tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (bit.ly/1yLo8GH ) that Holder’s comments in Washington this week were “irresponsible” while federal investigations into both Michael Brown’s Aug. 9 death and the broader Ferguson police operations are still going on.

A St. Louis County grand jury considering whether to bring criminal charges against Ferguson officer Darren Wilson.

Jackson said he is “low-hanging fruit” after a series of published reports suggesting he was being forced to step down to soothe department critics. The chief said he has no plans to resign.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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