FERGUSON, Mo. – Friday marks ten years since a former Ferguson police officer shot and killed Michael Brown.

His death sparked anger, protests across the nation, and a crucial conversation about racial tension and practices in community policing and interaction in Ferguson.

FOX 2’s Blair Ledet talked with Ferguson Chief Troy Doyle, who is the eighth person to take on the task of reshaping the force’s culture since the 2014 shooting. She also spoke to everyday people to hear if the efforts are working and how they’re still healing ten years later.

“It was pretty scary to see for a 14-year-old, but I get the point,” Ferguson resident Aliyah Courtney said.

Courtney lives in the former Canfield apartments where Brown was shot and was a child when the protests and unrest broke out.

Today, that apartment complex is only halfway occupied. Residents say many people moved out and the complex has changed owners multiple times over the years.

“At the time, it changed my point of view of how I looked at the police,” Courtney said.

Ten years ago, Ferguson was on fire with anger, protests, rioting, and demands for police reform.

Mrs. Garrison has been a longtime Ferguson resident and has lived in the neighborhood adjacent to the site of Brown’s death since 1993. One of the biggest points of criticism in the handling of Brown’s death was how his body wasn’t covered or removed for hours after he was killed.

“You did feel a certain way,” said Mrs. Garrison. “I didn’t know what the real circumstances were for him to be laying out there all that time.”

Mr. Moore has been getting his hair cut at Clip Appeal Barbershop on West Florissant Avenue for more than 30 years. He reflected on the day while getting a haircut.

“I think it was tragic how it went down, but I know a lot of people were just angry,” said Mr. Moore

Today, Ferguson honors 18-year-old Michael Brown with a memorial.

People are not only passing down Canfield Drive to remember Brown but also dozens of other African Americans killed during deadly interactions with officers across the country. Hands are planted into the ground along the roadway, reading names like Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

Floyd’s 2020 death by an officer in Minnesota sparked another round of protests in Ferguson.

“Black people are outraged about what happened. Things like that shouldn’t happen and it’s still happening,” Courtney said.

Brown’s 2014 death at the hands of Darren Wilson put a glaring spotlight on the challenges and changes to come ahead.

Chief Troy Doyle is a former St. Louis County Police Lieutenant Colonel who came to Ferguson with 30 years of experience, mostly in the North St. Louis County area.

“My biggest challenge is to change the culture of the police department. When I arrived here, morale was at an all-time low,” Doyle said.

Chief Doyle said there’s been hard work put into boosting morale, shifting culture, and retaining a force more reflective of the people of Ferguson.

“Many of our officers have attended implicit, bias training, use of for training, and de-escalation training,” Doyle said.

“I’ve seen changes within the police department which has improved since the demonstrations,” Mrs. Garrison said.

The U.S. Justice Department’s hundred-page investigation into the Ferguson Police Department highlighted staggering statistics of black people disproportionately pulled over, ticketed, and arrested.

“The Ferguson Police Department was hit with a federal consent decree. Part of the decree requires us to come up with a comprehensive community engagement plan for our city,” Chief Doyle said.

Ten years ago, the small town, which is almost 70% black, had only three black officers. Today, 50% are minorities. Doyle also pointed out that 23% of the force is female. Only four officers who were on the force in 2014 remain on the force today.

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“It’s essentially a new force.” Doyle said .“I think what’s important for the community is that the people who are in the positions you mentioned are people who have some historical perspective or some grassroots connection to the community who can truly understand. Those are the ones who become the most effective leaders in our community.

Michael Brown’s death catapulted continuing conversations on community policing and deep-seated racism.

“I would say it’s a work in progress,” Mrs. Garrison said.

“I think they’re already on the right track by having more diverse officers who understand the needs of the people and just don’t prejudge,” Mr. Moore said.  “Take everybody as a person and deal with them accordingly.”

Chief Doyle said the biggest lessons forces can take away from this city still on the mend are the importance of transparency and accountability. Many people interviewed on and off agree they are still healing, but they see progress happening.

“I think policing has gotten a lot better 10 years later, but it still has a way to go,” Moore said.

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