(Newswire.net — March 11, 2015) — Ferguson, Mo. – In the wake of a critical Justice Department report on the behavior of local police, the Ferguson city manager resigned. In addition, the city’s municipal court has been canceled for a week, with all cases being transferred to a state judge, the USA Today reported.
Ferguson City Manager John Shaw told the USA Today that he believes his resignation “is in the community’s best interest.”
Shaw was blamed for behavior by law enforcement and the allegedly racially motivated court system, according to The New York Times. Reportedly, in a 7-0 vote on Tuesday, the Ferguson City Council agreed to a mutual separation agreement.
“We appreciate John’s service and commitment to the City of Ferguson for the past eight years,” Mayor James Knowles III said in a statement. “The City Council and John Shaw feel that this is the appropriate time to move forward as we begin our search for a new city manager.”
In addition, the State Judge Roy L. Richter was reassigned by the Missouri Supreme Court to take over all pending and future municipal cases from Ferguson.
“The move was intended to help restore public trust and confidence,” the high court representative said, adding that Richter would be authorized to implement any reforms needed to “ensure that the rights of defendants are respected and to help restore the integrity of the system.”
Richter won’t actually take over the city’s caseload until March 19, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, but he will remain in place until the state Supreme Court reverses its decision, the Russia Today reported.
Mayor Knowles said in a statement “the City of Ferguson Court staff is looking forward to working with Judge Richter, as it begins to regain the trust of the Ferguson Community.”
“We understand there has been mistrust for some time, but the naming of Judge Richter will begin a new chapter for our Court,” he said.
The previous municipal court judge, Ronald Brockmeyer, resigned among allegations of unjustly issuing aggressive fines against African-Americans. In addition, the media reported Brockmeyer handed down the heavy fines unfairly, using the court to generate revenue for Ferguson, while he allegedly owes $170.000 in unpaid taxes.