SJ Mayor Declined National Guard Deployment Offer: Report

SAN JOSE, CA — Amid ongoing unrest in the aftermath of the death in police custody of George Floyd, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has declined an offer to activate the National Guard according to a published report.

Floyd died after a disgraced Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes as three other police officers stood by idly. All four officers have been criminally charged and were dismissed by the Minneapolis Police Department.

Liccardo said he received an offer over the weekend from Gov. Gavin Newsom to active the National Guard in support of law enforcement as protests grew and clashes between police and demonstrators broke out, The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Liccardo acknowledged receiving the offer from the state at Tuesday’s city council meeting, the report said.

Liccardo said he declined the offer after consulting with City Manager David Sykes and Police Chief Eddie Garcia, the report said.

“We feel very strongly that it is really important for civilian police to be policing,” Liccardo said according to the report.

“Putting people out there who are not professional police officers is a great risk to our residents because we know when individuals are in tense situations that they haven’t been in a lot may overreact and there are tragic consequences."

Read more in The San Jose Mercury News.