Missouri's top two elected officials are crediting Ferguson for pressing ahead with policing and court reforms despite a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit over the St. Louis suburb's justice system.
The civil rights lawsuit Wednesday came a day after Ferguson essentially rejected a settlement agreement by adding seven amendments to the proposal that sought to vastly improve Ferguson's police and municipal court practices. That's the town where 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot by white officer Darren Wilson in August 2014. Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing.
Governor Jay Nixon, a Democrat, said Thursday he's "heartened" by Ferguson leaders pledging to continuing to improve in the face of the lawsuit. He said Ferguson had "a real concern" with the affordability of the settlement.
Meanwhile, Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder called the lawsuit "an assault on the taxpayers of Ferguson."
