According to local NBC affiliate KSDK, police operations in Ferguson will now be overseen by the FBI.
FERGUSON, Mo. – NewsChannel 5 has learned the FBI will now take over a large part of the investigation into the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
The FBI will oversee all operations, protests and other activities in Ferguson.
Local police agencies, including St. Louis County police will now operate under the direction of the FBI.
KSDK also reports that a special prosecutor has been appointed to independently investigate the matter.
It’s important to note that the investigation is now being conducted independently, as President Obama announced in a statement today, because when the investigation was initially announced it was dubbed a “joint investigation” with local authorities.
Local authorities no longer appear to be in the loop. And they shouldn’t be.
(photo: Whitney Curtis/New York Times)
Update… Attornery General Eric Holder has issued a statement that seemingly confirms that the FBI will oversee operations in Ferguson.
“At a time when we must seek to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the local community, I am deeply concerned that the deployment of military equipment and vehicles sends a conflicting message. At my direction, Department officials have conveyed these concerns to local authorities. Also at my direction, the Department is offering – through our COPS office and Office of Justice Programs – technical assistance to local authorities in order to help conduct crowd control and maintain public safety without relying on unnecessarily extreme displays of force. The local authorities in Missouri have accepted this offer of assistance as of this afternoon.
“Department officials from the Community Relations Service are also on the ground in Missouri to help convene law enforcement officials and civic and faith leaders to plot out steps to reduce tensions in the community. The latest such meeting was convened in Ferguson as recently as this morning. Over time, these conversations should consider the role that increased diversity in law enforcement can play in helping to build trust within communities.