Missouri Governor Declares State of Emergency

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a State of Emergency in Missouri in anticipation of the release of findings pursuant to the police shooting of Michael Brown.

WHEREAS, the City of Ferguson and the St. Louis region have experienced periods of unrest over the past three months; and…WHEREAS the State of Missouri will be prepared to appropriately respond to any reaction to these announcments; and…WHEREAS our citizens have the right to peacefully assemble and protest and the State of Missouri is committed to protecting those rights; and…WHEREAS, our citizens and businesses must be protected from violence and damage…

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI…do hereby declare a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri.

MO Executive Order 14-14 directs the MHP, St. Louis County PD and St. Louis MPD to operate as a unified command, with permission to exercise operational authority in Ferguson and other jurisdictions to protect civil rights and ensure public safety. It also directs the Missouri Adjutant General to activate elements of the Missouri National Guard as need to “…protect life and property and assist civilian authorities…” The MNG has had personnel deployed in support of emergency preparedness in Missouri communities 32 times since 2001, including the response to the Joplin tornado. It will be commanded by Brigadier General Gregory Mason, a retired Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper with 30 years of LE experience (the Missouri National Guard is under the overall command of Major General Stephen L. Danner).

Executive Order 14-14 can be found online here.