San Francisco, Oakland Police Say They Are Ready For Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Police in San Francisco and Oakland are on standby Tuesday in the event that a grand jury's decision in Missouri, whether a white police officer will be indicted for the killing of an unarmed black teenager, could lead to protests in the Bay Area.

The grand jury decision could come any time so Missouri's Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in case there are violent demonstrations after Officer Darren Wilson is, or is not, indicted for shooting 18-year-old Michael Brown.

In San Francisco, police spokesman Officer Albie Esparza told KCBS that while he does not expect any violence, every officer on patrol is currently on standby to respond to unrest.

"Every day we have been monitoring what's going on in Ferguson, Missouri and so basically we do have officers with their demonstration gear in the vehicles readily available should the necessity arise," he said.

Meanwhile, Oakland police said they are also ready to facilitate peaceful demonstrations and free speech but also to respond to vandalism, property damage or any threats to public safety.

Related:

In:
• Missouri
• California
• Oakland
• San Francisco
• Alameda County