By Associated Press - Friday, February 28, 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Springfield activists have submitted petitions seeking to rescind a working arrangement between the city’s police department and the Missouri National Guard.

Opponents of the arrangement say if the City Council doesn’t repeal it, the plan should be put to a public vote. The activists turned in 1,114 signatures to the city clerk just before Thursday’s deadline.

The council in January approved an agreement for a National Guard analyst to work with Springfield police to fight drug crimes in the city. The National Guard would pay the analyst’s salary.

The Springfield News-Leader reports (https://sgfnow.co/1fYT4YG ) opponents are concerned about military personnel being embedded in a civilian police force.

The agreement allows Springfield police or the National Guard to end the arrangement with 30 days notice.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, https://www.news-leader.com

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