Ferguson , Missouri ( CNN ) Ferguson 's police chief and other city officials are already out . Now some residents have told the Missouri city they 'll try to oust the mayor , too . Five residents Friday filed an affidavit saying they 'll try to force a referendum on whether to remove Mayor James Knowles -- capping a tumultuous week in a community grappling not only with last year 's fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown , but also Wednesday 's wounding of two police officers shot during a protest . A group supporting the filing , Organization for Black Struggle , a 35-year-old St. Louis-based activist group , said the five would try to collect enough signatures -- 15 % of the city 's registered voters -- in the next 60 days . The five `` initiated recall ( attempt ) due to Mayor Knowles ' failure to adequately rein in an out-of-control police department during the protests following Mike Brown 's death , '' the activist group said . The city government acknowledged Saturday that it received the affidavit . Earlier this week , the police chief and the city manager resigned in the wake of a U.S. Justice Department report alleging institutionalized racism at just about every level of Ferguson 's municipal government , including the police department . Residents elect City Council members , who in turn appoint the city manager . The city manager directs and supervises all city departments , including police . The top municipal court clerk was fired earlier in connection with racist emails . This month 's Justice Department report was initiated after one of Ferguson 's police officers , Darren Wilson , shot and killed African-American teen Michael Brown in August , a shooting that spurred months of protests . Wilson , a white officer who said he shot Brown in self-defense , will not be charged in the case -- a grand jury declared it would n't indict him in November , and the Justice Department said this month that it would not bring federal civil rights charges in the case . Wilson resigned from the department in November , citing security concerns . Knowles indicated Friday he wo n't be stepping down . `` I think it 's important to recognize that there 's a lot of people who may be angry at the situation ; there 's a lot of people who are frustrated in this community with the way things have gone down , '' the mayor , who is white , told CNN . `` But there 's a lot of people who still -- and who have expressed this to me -- express confidence in both my willingness , and members of the ( City ) Council 's willingness , to listen , to be responsive , and to make changes as necessary , '' he continued . `` People in the community recognize this , now , not everybody . I did n't win every time with 100 % of the vote . But I can tell you there are ways to remove me if that is the will of the people , '' the mayor said . Blake Ashby , a white resident of Ferguson , said Friday that he believed Knowles has `` consciously tried to reach out to all parts '' of the city of 21,000 people . `` If we lose Mayor Knowles , we lose a force for change , and it will be harder to make the changes that the DOJ ( Department of Justice ) is asking for , '' Ashby said . Rasheen Aldridge , a black member of a commission charged with recommending reforms in Ferguson , said that Knowles needed to resign in the wake of the DOJ report . `` He knew what was going on during his watch , '' said Aldridge , a member of the Ferguson Commission , which Gov . Jay Nixon formed last year . Investigators still are seeking breaks in the case of two police officers who were shot Wednesday night during a protest in Ferguson . While the demonstrators ' focus was Ferguson , neither of the wounded officers works for that police department . One is from Webster Groves , a St. Louis suburb 13 miles south of Ferguson . The officer -- a 32-year-old with seven years ' experience -- was shot at the high point of his cheek , just under his right eye , police said . The other was hit in the shoulder and the bullet came out the middle of his back . He is a 41-year-old officer with the St. Louis County Police who has been in law enforcement for 14 years . Both were treated and released . `` I can not tell you an arrest is imminent , and there 's certainly no one in custody , '' St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar told reporters Friday afternoon . `` The detectives are working this investigation around the clock , and they will not rest until we have a conclusion in this investigation , '' the chief said . Police have `` several leads , '' he said . `` I think we have a pretty good general idea of where we think the shots came from . '' Sara Sidner reported from Ferguson , Missouri . Jason Hanna reported and wrote from Atlanta . CNN 's Ed Payne and Michael Martinez contributed to this report .
Group says mayor failed to rein in police during protests after Michael Brown 's November death . Mayor wo n't step down , saying `` there are ways to remove me ''