FERGUSON, Mo. – Federal “civil rights investigators” have reiterated their expectation that Ferguson, Missouri police officers will stop wearing “I Am Darren Wilson” bracelets.
The Associated Press reports in letter issued Friday, “the U.S. Justice Department asks Police Chief Tom Jackson to ‘confirm our understanding’ that officers in the suburban St. Louis County department won’t wear ‘I am Darren Wilson’ bracelets while on duty.”
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Wilson is the officer who reportedly shot teenager Michael Brown.
There is an on-going grand jury investigation into the incident.
He was reportedly going to attend college in the St. Louis area this fall.
According to the AP, “Ferguson residents complained about the black bracelets with white lettering this week at a meeting with federal officials.”
Commanders with the Missouri Highway Patrol and St. Louis County Police Department have already agreed to ban the bracelets while the investigation into Brown’s August 9th death continues.
Tempers flared again this week when a makeshift memorial for Brown was burned. Police said numerous candles started the blaze, but protesters said it was intentionally set, according to the New York Daily News.
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“Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson confirmed that some officers wore the Wilson-supporting bracelets while on duty in Ferguson — but he did not name the individuals or which agencies they represented,” the Daily News reports.
“I think that that was not a statement of law enforcement, that wearing of that was an individual statement,” Johnson said.
“When we wear this uniform, we understand that we’ve got a professional standard that we adhere to.”
The AP reports the Feds have also ordered the Ferguson police department to begin wearing name plates.
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