JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Gov. Jay Nixon today signed an executive order activating the Missouri National Guard to support law enforcement during any period of unrest that might occur following the grand jury’s decision concerning the investigation into the death of Michael Brown. The Governor said the Guard will provide support for law enforcement’s objectives of maintaining safety and protecting constitutional rights.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to plan and be prepared for any contingency, it is necessary to have these resources in place in advance of any announcement of the grand jury’s decision,” Gov. Nixon said. “These additional resources will support law enforcement’s efforts to maintain peace and protect those exercising their right to free speech. The National Guard is well-suited to provide security at command posts, fire stations and other locations as well as perform other functions that will free up law enforcement officers to remain focused on community policing and protecting constitutional rights.”
Gov. Nixon’s executive order also establishes that the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will operate as a unified command to keep members of the public safe and protect property, while allowing citizens to exercise their constitutional rights. Under the executive order, the St. Louis County Police Department will have command and operational control over security in the City of Ferguson in areas of protests and acts of civil disobedience, should such activities occur.
“All people in the St. Louis region deserve to feel safe in their communities and to make their voices heard without fear of violence or intimidation,” said Gov. Nixon. “Public safety demands that we are fully prepared for any contingency, regardless of what the St. Louis County grand jury or the U.S. Department of Justice decides.”
The St. Louis County prosecutor has said publicly that an announcement of the grand jury’s decision will be made later this month. The United States Department of Justice, which is conducting both civil and criminal investigations of the death of Michael Brown, has not announced when its investigations will be concluded.
“Our department, like other police departments in the region, has a full time job keeping our neighborhoods safe. We are used to working with other agencies in times of necessity,” said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson. “Having the support of the National Guard available will enable local officers to continue to respond promptly to calls for service.”
“We have taken tremendous strides over the past three months, as our officers have undergone thousands of hours of additional training and reached out to build strong relationships across the community,” said St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar. “These additional resources will enhance our ability to achieve our key responsibilities: keeping the public safe, protecting property and enabling people to exercise their constitutional rights.”
Requests from local law enforcement for duties to be performed by the Guard will be handled through the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“These past three months have been challenging for our community but we have come together in many measurable ways,” said Captain Ron Johnson, commander of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C. “The power of communication within the community has allowed us to take steps toward peaceful change that demonstrate the true character of North County. The availability of the National Guard will ensure that law enforcement has the resources to protect three things vital to our community: public safety, property and the constitutional rights of all.”
It’s about proper representation for the demographics of the region. It no longer is a white community, so why are whites acting as the authority figures? 80% black and they have white mayor, police force and chief? These poor folks never realized their rights or political strength due to longstanding oppression as and role expectations. They know now though. CNN is helping them wake up.
By activating the national guard for law enforcement purposes under the state of emergency is the same as declaring local martial law.
Posse Comitatus Act does not apply to state activation of National Guard at invitation by local governor, but for all practical purposes- in terms of hardware and training, it’s the same as using the federal US Army…is it not? I for one would like to see a street insurrection actually overthrow a local government. It’s never been done successfully in America, and if ever there were grounds, it’d be by a predominately black community ruled by whites.
stoned again?
No, I’m out of Colorado and in a state that allows medical card marijuana only. I don’t have my medical card yet, but will apply for one if I stay here. The weather in Colorado is just too dang cold for me (even though the winters are much milder than Iowa). Where I’m at: palm trees, eternally blue skies, and around 65 degrees temperatures…amazingly clean, nice concrete, roads, and businesses that are color coordinated and have a theme. Very nice city.
Philly…I gotta ask. How do you manage to travel as far as you have? You have no job, no visible means of income, so how do you do it? You should become a de-motivational speaker. Have you ever thought of that?
I told you Buzz, I sold my land to the father of the psycho path. I also sold one of those 8×12 storage sheds (XTC auto sells them) to some people out of New Hampton who picked it up using a really nifty roller bed. I’m re-investing in my future, but just not in Iowa. Iowa is a troubled place, and not a good investment at this time. Keep working at it though…I’m rooting for you all. Someday, I’d like to come back and do business, and I still want to build that Earthship.
And california is better than iowa? Boy are you stoned.
Philly…..Ferguson, Mo would be a good place for you to go. You’d fit right in with the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. The only difference between you and them is…..well….there is no difference.
CNN didn’t do anyone any favors either. If anything, they may have done more harm than good. Cases like this shouldn’t be tried by the news correspondents. Let the Grand Jury do its duty and except its decision. No matter what, there will be a riot.
There wouldn’t be a case to consider were it not for the news media. Local authorities would have buried it quickly…justifying the shooting, and returning Officer Wilson to duty (like hundreds of other white cop vs. black suspect shootings throughout history).
So according to you peter is that there is no more innocent until proven guilty?
@Buzz-It is people like Sharpton, Jackson and Philly that are the real problems here. They are professional trouble makers and make their living off stirring things up.
@LVS…that’s exactly right. Philly doesn’t come off as being any different than Sharpton and Jackson.
This is a stupid, stupid move on this gov.’s part. This guy has a history of doing stupid things. All he is going to do is fan the flames. It is no longer about justice, it is about thugs and criminal’s destroying other people’s property.