13 minute video of Mayor Slay's news conference today:

Mo. National Guard activated ahead of grand jury decision

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Governor Jay Nixon activated the Missouri National Guard on Monday to support local law enforcement in the event of unrest and violence in the greater St. Louis area following the decision of the grand jury investigating the death of Michael Brown.

Under the governor's executive order, the St. Louis County Police Department will assume control of the unified command, which includes the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The state police will handle all local law enforcement requests for the Missouri National Guard.

At a news conference, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said he did not know exactly how many guardsmen would be deployed in the city. The guard will not be posted on the front lines in dealing with protesters or activists. Slay said the National Guard is best suited for a secondary role, because local police have a better understanding and knowledge of the neighborhoods.

The mayor said he agreed with Governor Nixon's decision to declare a state of emergency for the area.



The Missouri National Guard has been deployed 32 times since 2001.

Just last week, Mayor Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley urged calm from residents when the grand jury decision comes down.

Nixon's executive order expires in 30 days.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri issued the following statement regarding Gov. Nixon's executive order:

"If the Governor is removing jurisdictional barriers to allow the best trained officers – those most respectful of constitutional rights – to have operational control if a response is needed, it is good to have such a plan in place. The ACLU will monitor the implementation of this Order and we will continue to make sure that all law enforcement agencies uphold constitutional rights and civil liberties."
Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9. The grand jury convened August 20.

MORE: Ferguson timeline

Witnesses and police have provided conflicting accounts of Michael Brown's death. Police claim Brown struggled with Wilson inside his police car, then reached for Wilson's weapon. Brown's family and some witnesses said Wilson killed Brown as he raised his hands in surrender.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch previously said he expects the grand jury to make its decision in mid-to-late November, and that his office would release that decision to the public through the media.

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/11/17/mo-national-guard-on-standby-for-grand-jury-decision/19182985/