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Two Ferguson police officers resign over racist emails

By Danielle Haynes
The Ferguson, Missouri Police Department headquarters building as shown on March 3, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. Reports say the Justice Department has discovered patterns of discrimination within the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department for disproportionately ticketing and arresting African-Americans.The probe was prompted by the August 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson Police officer. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
The Ferguson, Missouri Police Department headquarters building as shown on March 3, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. Reports say the Justice Department has discovered patterns of discrimination within the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department for disproportionately ticketing and arresting African-Americans.The probe was prompted by the August 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson Police officer. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

FERGUSON, Mo., March 6 (UPI) -- Two Ferguson police officers resigned Thursday after a U.S. Department of Justice report revealed some city officials sent racist emails using their work accounts.

Ferguson city spokesman Jeff Small told CNN officers Rick Henke and William Mudd left the department. Small told NBC News the two men were placed on administrative leave from the department Wednesday for sending racist emails.

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The emails were uncovered in a Justice Department investigation into the city's law enforcement and judicial system after the shooting death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown. A second report from the department found the officer responsible for the shooting, Darren Wilson, shouldn't face charges for the incident.

Ferguson Mayor James Knowles announced Wednesday -- after the reports were released -- that one court worker was fired and two police officers were placed on administrative leave for the racist emails. Small said Mary Ann Twitty, the city's top court clerk, was fired for her part in the emails.

The Justice Department's investigation found routine discrimination against African-Americans in Ferguson's police department and court system. From those subsequent arrests, the city generated large amounts of revenue.

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