Ferguson, Missouri, Police Chief Thomas Jackson apologized on Thursday to the parents of unarmed teen Michael Brown, as well as to the peaceful protesters for whom he didn’t do “enough to protect their constitutional right to protest.”
Jackson, who was dressed casually in a red polo shirt, addressed the fact that Brown’s body laid uncovered in the street for four hours. After Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown, it took investigating officers four hours to remove Brown’s body from the street. Thomas claims the workers were doing “important work,” including collecting evidence.
“For any mistakes I’ve made, I take full responsibility. It’s an honor to serve the city of Ferguson and the people who live there. I look forward to working with you in the future to solve our problems, and once again, I deeply apologize to the Brown family,” he said in a video statement.
The chief also apologized to the protestors, who he admitted were mostly peaceful, but acknowledged some “had a different agenda.”
“The right of the people to peacefully assemble is what the police are here to protect. If anyone who was peacefully exercising that right is upset and angry, I feel responsible and I’m sorry,” he said.
Watch the full apology below: