Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson apologized Thursday to the parents of Michael Brown, the 18-year-old who was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson, and to any peaceful protesters who have accused the department of not protecting their free speech, according to CNN.
Definitive details surrounding why Jackson chose a video recording as the method to deliver the official apology are not readily available, though CNN reported that he wanted the opportunity to issue a heartfelt and complete apology.
"The events of the past few weeks have sent shockwaves not just through the community here but around the nation," he said at the beginning of the clip, noting that he went from a small town police chief to one of the centerpieces of an emotional national debate.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson releases the name of the the officer accused of fatally shooting Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Jackson announced that the officer's name is Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jackson directly apologized to Brown's parents, specifically focusing on the four hours it took to remove their son's body from the scene.
"No one who has not experienced the loss of a child can understand what you are feeling. I'm truly sorry for the loss of your son," he said. "I'm also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street."
While Jackson said that investigators meant no harm to the family or the African American community as they collected essential evidence, he admitted that it was simply too long to wait.
The police chief also addressed some of the protesters who had come to the area to peacefully assemble.
"I do want to say to any peaceful protestor who did not feel that I did enough to protect their constitutional right to protest, I am sorry for that," he said. "The right of the people to peacefully assemble is what the police are here to protect."
Watch the video below:
(H/T: CNN)
