Sacramento Police Ready For Protests, But Say Outreach Is Key To Avoid Violence

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) —The violence and unrest in Missouri following a grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer in the shooting of Michael Brown is on the minds and in the hearts of local law enforcement.

For Sacramento Police officers, it's pretty much business as usual on Tuesday, but they are quite aware of what has taken place in Ferguson, Missouri.

Officer Justin Brown says the department had its hands full with a protest on Monday, but that's to be expected in the capital city.

He also says whether they encounter a violent protest or a quiet day on patrol, officers are always on high alert.

"We are always thinking about our officer safety," he said. "You never know what could happen out there. Sometimes things can be very dangerous for a police so we have to take that into consideration."

He says connecting with the community is a key part of their violence-prevention effort.

"We're going to continue to do what we do everyday and that's build relationships with the community," he said.