St. Louis County, MO—(ENEWSPF)—August 21, 2014. Gov. Jay Nixon today ordered the Missouri National Guard to begin a systematic process of withdrawing from the City of Ferguson. The Missouri National Guard will coordinate with the Missouri State Highway Patrol in carrying out this order.
“I greatly appreciate the men and women of the Missouri National Guard for successfully carrying out the specific, limited mission of protecting the Unified Command Center so that law enforcement officers could focus on the important work of increasing communication within the community, restoring trust, and protecting the people and property of Ferguson,” Gov. Nixon said. “As we continue to see improvement, I have ordered the Missouri National Guard to begin a systematic process of withdrawing from the City of Ferguson.”
On Monday, Gov. Nixon ordered the Guard to carry out the specific mission of protecting the Unified Command Center in Ferguson, which had been the target of a coordinated, planned attack the night before. Missouri National Guard Brigadier General Gregory Mason is overseeing Guard operations in Ferguson under the overall command of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Since that time, the situation has greatly improved with fewer incidents of outside instigators interfering with peaceful protestors, and fewer acts of violence.
Meanwhile, the unified command, which includes officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County, St. Louis City and other jurisdictions, will continue its mission to respond appropriately to incidents of lawlessness while protecting the rights of all peaceful citizens.
