JPD will only engage if demonstrations turn violent, chief says

JPD Chief says, Officers will only engage if demonstrations turn violent.

CENTEREDON MAKING SURE THE CITY WASPREPARED FORANY SURPRISES LIKE THOSE THATHAVEOCCURRED IN OTHER CITIES ANDRESULTED INMASSIVE DAMAGE AND INJURY.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CAPITOLCITY HAVEBEEN LARGELY CALM IN STARKCONTRAST.... TOTHE VIOLENCE SEEN IN MULTIPLECITIES ACROSSTHE NATION.JACKSON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSCALLING THEPOLICE CHIEF TO A MEETINGTUESDAY...CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT GOWRONG..IF PEACEFUL RALLIES HERE..TAKE A DIFFERENTDIRECTION.DE'KEITHER STAMPS/JACKSON CITYCOUNCILMAN: I DON'T WANTTHESE NOMADIC INSURGENTS THAT ITONLY TAKES 5 OR 10 OF THEM..THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED INNASHVILLE.AARON BANKS/JACKSON CITYCOUNCILMAN: I WAS WATCHINGONE CITY WHERE THESE OUTSIDEAGITATORS CAME ...IT ENDED UPBEING THE CITIZENS AGAINST THEAGITATORS.POLICE CHIEF JAMES DAVIS SAYSHIS DEPARTMENT IS MONITORING THERALLIESTHROUGH THE CAPITOL CITY BUTHAVEUNDERTAKEN A POLICY OF LETTINGTHEM MARCH...AS LONG AS THERE IS NO DANGEROFVIOLENCE.CHIEF JAMES DAVIS/JPD: WE ARALLOWING THEM TO PROTEST ANDWHAT I HAVE FOUND IN OTHERCITIES HAVING BURNED BUILDINGSAND RIDES..

ANYTIME YOU PUTOUT THE PRESENCE OF A BUNCHARMED LAWMEN ITAGITATES THEM.DAVIS JPD'S APPROACH IS TO LETTHE RALLIESPROCEED..AND NOT TO ENGAGE THEPROTESTORS.CHIEF JAMES DAVIS/JPD: HEREJACKSON MISSISSIPPI ALL WE HAVEWITNESSED ARE PEACEFUL PROTESTWE .DO HAVE RIOT GEARAND THE EQUIPMENT WE NEED INCASE WE NEED TO DEPLOYTHEM.

PROTEST ORGANIZERS ARE REQUIREDTO GETPERMITS FROM THE CITY BEFOREHOLDING THEIREVENTS.CHIEF DAVIS ADMITS THEDEPARTMENT IS STILLUNDER STAFFED BUT SAY THEY DOHAVE ENOUGHTO HANDLE POLICE SERVICES..

LIVE JACKSON SCOTT SIMMONS 16 WAPTNEWS.

NEW QUESTIONS IN THEINVESTIGATION OF A JACKSONFIREFIGHTER ACCUSED OF M