Ferguson police chief issues a video apology to the Brown family, 'peaceful protesters', and city residents

Ferguson police chief issues a video apology to the Brown family, &#039;peaceful protesters&#039;, and city residents

last updated 8 January 2015

Nearly two months after 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, the city's police chief has issued a video apology to Brown's family, the peaceful protesters who gathered following the death, and the local residents who were embroiled in a nationwide controversy.

"Overnight I went from being a small-town police chief to being a part of a conversation about racism, equality, and the role of policing in that conversation," says Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson in the apology video, released Thursday morning. "But before we can engage in further discussion of the broader issues, I think it's important that we address the central issue that brought us here today and that's the death of Michael Brown."

Jackson goes on to address the Brown family directly, apologize to the "peaceful protesters" — whom he singles out intentionally — and address the issue of racism both in Ferguson and in the nation. "For any mistakes I have made, I take full responsibility," he says. Watch the full video below. --Kimberly Alters