Jefferson City area law enforcement departments were not anticipating any local demonstrations in the wake of a not-guilty verdict Friday morning in a case involving a white St. Louis police officer who fatally shot a black man in 2011.
"We have been following the growing tension in the St. Louis area, while everyone anticipated the trial verdict and reaction," Jefferson City Police Chief Roger Schroeder said. "We understand that, given our proximity to St. Louis, there exists a possibility of some degree of disruption within our community. That's not a prediction, but we must always be prepared for some level of discontent, which might escalate to some form of violence. There's a significant difference between one's constitutional right to peacefully demonstrate and those who would perpetuate lawlessness."
Schroeder said his department, which is tasked with protecting the state capital, has experience with various types of lawful demonstrations.
"We respect and protect the rights of those who exercise those rights," he said. "That's an element of our sworn duty. For those who would participate in violent conduct, regardless of their professed motivation, we will not stand by and let such conduct occur. We have a professional duty to protect. Our consistent goal, however, is to avoid reaching a point of conflict. I have no basis to believe our community has any reason to fear post-verdict violence."
Schroeder said JCPD officers are trained to exercise patience, use good judgment and apply the laws equitably.
"We rarely experience difficulties, primarily because we do a good job of establishing a constructive relationship with demonstrators and are willing to communicate and find a common ground," he said. "I don't anticipate problems, but we are always ready and able to address issues in a professional manner."
Lincoln University Police Chief Gary Hill said he was briefed by state officials earlier this week about the St. Louis situation, but he and his department were not expecting any problems after the verdict. He said they were concentrating their efforts to prepare for next weekend's homecoming activities.
Late Friday afternoon, LU Interim President Mike Middleton and LU Student Government Association President Curtis Burton III issued a joint statement.
"We understand the passionate reactions among those committed to racial justice, and within the African-American community," they wrote. "While many see this as an injustice, we must remember that acting irresponsibly will not solve the much larger issue. We must not create even greater problems for our selves or within our university community by abandoning our time-tested tradition of peaceful protests."
They wrote the SGA supports students' exercising their constitutional right to protest, and as a higher education institution, LU welcomes "civil discourse from all perspectives."
Missouri Public Safety Department spokesman Mike O'Connell on Friday said Capitol Police "monitor events locally, regionally, nationally and internationally," so they were aware of the situation in St. Louis.
O'Connell did not say whether Capitol Police had received any information concerning possible threats to, or demonstrations at, state facilities in Jefferson City. As has been the department's ongoing practice, O'Connell declined to comment on any security measures they might have taken.