ST. LOUIS – For nearly a week, the police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, has been a shadowy figure – nameless, faceless and seemingly shielded from the fury that has filled the streets of the town he was sworn to protect.
On Friday, the community finally learned his name – Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white officer who has spent the last six years patrolling the St. Louis suburbs, drawing praise from his boss.
Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson provided the name and said Wilson had not been the focus of any public complaints. He declined to offer many details about Wilson’s life or career but commended his police record and his demeanor.
“He was a gentle, quiet man,” Jackson said. “He was a distinguished officer. He is, has been, an excellent officer for the police department.”
Wilson has been on administrative leave since the Aug. 9 shooting.