Dear Neighbors,
We know concerned community members want to help during these difficult times. The Department of Public Safety is asking all local communities to NOT be in the streets tonight, for any reason.
- The situation has shifted. The coordinated response tonight will be different.
- The coordinated National Guard, State Patrol, and Law enforcement presence will triple in size – and it continues to grow.
- This response is to address a sophisticated network of urban warfare. We expect the individuals involved to use deadly force – both with fires and other weapons.
- A primary tactic they have used is to locate civilians and use them as both shields from law enforcement and distractions to effective response.
- YOU MUST STAY IN PLACE.
- Do not patrol, do not be out walking, do not drive your car unless is it an emergency situation.
- We cannot have innocent people caught up in the sweep of those inflicting violence and danger on our communities.
- These people are sophisticated and coordinated and we need to allow our law enforcement to focus response and resources on the legitimate threats attacking our communities.
- Just because you don’t see the coordinated response – such as National Guard soldiers, know that they are out in the community. DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU ARE NOT BEING SEEN BY THEM. Our response teams have airborne surveillance. If you are out patrolling the street, our response teams cannot know if you are there to do damage or to protect and will divert resources to find out.
- If you are out, you are making the response operation more difficult. You are taking resources and attention away from effectively responding to threats.
- Protecting and keeping watch from safe, non-mobile locations is fine.
Stay safe,
Heather Edelson
State Representative