As [__expected__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2014/11/ferguson-cop-darren-wilson-expected-resign/), Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson has resigned from the police department now that he doesn’t have to depend on it to pay for his legal defense had he been indicted.
It also helps that he is [__more than $500,000 richer__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/500-000-raised-support-darren-wilson-legal-fight-article-1.2027042?ref=hihidnews) thanks to all his supporters and donors who believed he was truly in fear for his life when he shot and killed Michael Brown on August 9 and were under the impression that he would need to foot his own legal bill.
Considering the 28-year-old man just married his lover, an affair that [__ended two marriages,__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Darren-Wilson-violent-confrontation-wife-s-ex-lover-Court-documents-reveal-volatile-home-life-officer-shot-Michael-Brown-grand-jury-never-told-of.html) we imagine he will be taking a nice, long honeymoon somewhere far away from Ferguson, which is still experiencing protests. He’s come a long way since his days as a Jennings police officer, an agency [__that was dismantled__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/watch?v=Pu-0IzEoDJo) because too many white officers were abusing black citizens.
According to the [__St. Louis Post-Dispatch:__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/article_a8cfa6e7-408c-520c-b9d2-de2a75e8983d.html)
> Wilson’s resignation letter reads, in part:
> “I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. For obvious reasons, I wanted to wait until the grand jury made their decision before I officially made my decision to resign. It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community are of paramount importance to me. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal.”
> Wilson, who was paid an annual salary of $45,302, said he acted without receiving a severance package, although he said more talks may be held on that topic. He said he’s been told he is not involved in any ongoing internal police investigation.
> Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson declined to comment.
Wilson may still face civil action, so he may still have to spend some of that money on legal fees, if he is unable to raise more.
Many of his donors were no doubt motivated to give after seeing the following picture, which was said to be him, but it wasn’t.

[__Less than a week ago__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ferguson-police-officer-darren-wilson-will-return-to-work-if-not-indicted1) Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson told reporters he’d immediately return Wilson to work if the grand jury didn’t indict him. Clearly, Wilson kept his superiors in the dark about his new means of support, and likely forgot to mention crowd funding to the grand jury which failed to indict him too.
Wilson has been on paid administrative leave since the August 9 shooting.
According to [__CNN last week:__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/index1.html?sr=fb112014darrenwilsonresignupdate1115pVODtopPhoto)
> Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed teenager Michael Brown on August 9, is in the final stages of negotiations with city officials to resign, according to people close to the talks.
> Wilson maintains he hasn’t done anything wrong, and the resignation talks have hinged on whether a grand jury returns an indictment against him in the death of Brown, people close to the talks said.
> Wilson has told associates he would resign as a way to help ease pressure and protect his fellow officers. Wilson has expressed concern about resigning while the grand jury was hearing evidence for fear it would appear he was admitting fault.
> Wilson could announce as soon as Friday his plans to resign, the same day a St. Louis County grand jury meets to deliberate and possibly decide on an indictment.
> The talks could still collapse, these people said. Wilson doesn’t know what the grand jury will do and if they return charges he could change his mind.
Two weeks ago, a [__video emerged__](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2014/11/ferguson-darren-wilson/) from last year showing Wilson arresting a man for recording him, later writing a different version of events in his police report.