Local police prepared for Ferguson decision

IOWA CITY - While the state of Missouri has been placed in a state of emergency in anticipation of a decision on whether to indict Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson, local police said they are prepared for any demonstrations that might follow.

National Guard troops will be deployed to Ferguson, where 18-year-old Michael Brown, a black teen, was fatally shot by Wilson on Aug. 9. Wilson is white. Protests, looting, violence and a heavy police presence followed the shooting. While the violence was eventually quelled, there are concerns it will be reignited following the grand jury decision on whether Wilson will be indicted for his role in Brown's death.

Police in both Iowa City and Cedar Rapids said they have been monitoring the situation in Ferguson since August and continue to do so.

'We're monitoring Ferguson, Missouri, as is the rest of the nation,” said Iowa City Police Sgt. Scott Gaarde.

An organization calling itself the Ferguson National Response Network has planned responses across the nation to the grand jury announcement. According to the group's website, a demonstration is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the Pentacrest on the University of Iowa campus the day after the announcement.

Gaarde said the police department is not planning any response to the planned demonstration.

'We're not concerned about people becoming violent,” he said. 'People have their right to express their opinion, regardless of the outcome ... We encourage people to exercise their personal rights.”

While the Ferguson National Response Network does not list any plans for Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman said his department is nonetheless prepared for any protests that might follow the grand jury decision.

'I submit that CRPD officers are trained to prepare for and manage events, including demonstrations,” Jerman said in an email to The Gazette. 'Citizens have a Constitutional right to peaceful assembly and we will protect that right.”

Jerman added that his officers have been working with community leaders before and since the Ferguson incident and will continue to do after the grand jury announcement.

'The department and myself are committed to continued community outreach programs and ways of working with all members of the community so we can talk and collectively find solutions peacefully,” he said.

Authorities in Missouri have not said when the grand jury decision will be announced.