Missouri Guv: State Highway Patrol Will Take Over Security In Ferguson

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

By DYLAN SCOTT Published AUGUST 14, 2014, 4:16 PM EDT

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced Thursday that the Missouri Highway Patrol would assume control of security in Ferguson, Co., taking over from the local law enforcement who have thus far been handling the crisis.

The Ferguson and St. Louis County police departments had previously been handling law enforcement in Ferguson, where protesters have clashed with police since Sunday, resulting in rubber bullets and tear gas being fired into the crowds. The police have also been subjected to gunfire and other violence, they have said

"Over the past several days, we've all been deeply troubled by this crisis," Nixon said. "Lately, it's looked al ittle bit like a war zone and that's unacceptable."

The crisis followed the Saturday police shooting of Michael Brown, 18, an unarmed African-American man.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jay-nixon-ferguson-missouri-protests-actions

[RKP5637]

1. Chief of Police should be fired and the toys taken away from the Ferguson cops. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. +1. nt

[drynberg]

5. Yep

The officer who killed Michael needs to be brought to Justice Now, no if, ands, or butts.

[Gore1FL]

12. Toys need to be taken from all of them.

Ferguson is one of many, and isn't the worst.

[ballyhoo]

3. Uh, this is not as great of news as the State Police taking

over. I wonder if they said "no".

[Bacchus4.0]

7. The highway patrol is the state police n/t

[ballyhoo]

10. Ahhhhhhhh, thanks.

[Dems to Win]

4. Guy in charge has changed, same officers to be patrolling on the ground

A Highway Patrol captain has been put in charge, that's the only change that's happened.

Listening to Nixon's press conference now....

[drynberg]

6. Yep

The ten shot cop needs Justice Now.

[blkmusclmachine]

8. Arranging the deck chairs...

[Gore1FL]

13. Not really

This needed to happen.

[alp227]

9. Gov. Nixon gives police control of Ferguson situation to Missouri State Highway Patrol

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has given police oversight of the Ferguson situation to the Missouri State Highway Patrol under the command of Capt. Ronald S. Johnson, a St. Louis area native.

Nixon said the change in command will include a softening in "tone" and "amplitude" regarding protective force.

"Clearly you'll see as the afternoon and evening starts, a little different picture," Nixon said, adding, "We should all know there will be resources out there if things get difficult, that people will be safe."

Nixon addressed questions from the press at the University of Missouri-St. Louis after touring areas of Ferguson. He was flanked by Johnson, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

[riversedge]

11. They need lessons in crowd control--wonder

if this will happen.

[FormerOstrich]

14. The Highway Patrol has been involved already....

I saw this picture last night. Maybe taking control will help but hope its not too much the same.