Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will have the National Guard ready and waiting to respond to any unrest that may erupt in the wake of a grand jury announcement regarding the fate of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.
“Violence will not be tolerated. Residents and businesses of this region will be protected,” the governor said Tuesday at a news conference with officials from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County police and St. Louis Metropolitan police, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The governor added that troops will only be deployed if it is determined that their skills are needed to support local law enforcement.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot six times and killed on Aug. 9 during an altercation with Officer Wilson. A decision by the grand jury is expected to come at any time.
“The community is on edge. … There is a large sense of anxiety out there. This is a little unprecedented,” St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar told reporters in a televised news conference, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The paper added that more than 1,000 police officers have received a total of more than 5,000 hours of training to deal with a worst-case scenario unfolding after the grand jury’s decision is made.
SEE ALSO: Ferguson girds for grand jury decision as fate of Darren Wilson nears
“The world is watching,” Mr. Nixon said, the Los Angeles Times reported.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.