Darren Wilson resigned from the Ferguson, Missouri police department Saturday, telling the St. Louis Post-Dispatch it is "the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
"I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk," Wilson wrote in a letter to the department, "which is a circumstance that I cannot allow."
Wilson added in an interview "I'm resigning of my own free will. I'm not willing to let someone else get hurt because of me."
Wilson was reportedly in talks to step down for weeks but said he wanted to wait until the grand jury decided whether or not to indict him for shooting and killing Michael Brown. Wilson wrote he hopes resigning "will allow the community to heal" and thanked "all of my supporters and fellow officers throughout this process."
Wilson's attorney said a press conference is planned. While he's been cleared of any criminal charges, Wilson and the police department are currently under investigation by the Justice Department. Wilson may face a civil lawsuit from the Brown family.