Kenosha Police Assert Preparedness Ahead Of Rittenhouse Verdict

KENOSHA, WI — The outcome of the state's charges against Kyle Rittenhouse is now in the hands of a jury, and ahead of a possible verdict, authorities in Kenosha are asserting they are prepared.

"The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department and Kenosha Police Department understand and recognize the anxiety surrounding the Kyle Rittenhouse trial," read a statement released Tuesday by the agencies. Authorities added that they currently have no reason to close roads, enact curfews or ask the community to modify daily routines.

During the August 2020 protests that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Kenosha authorities enacted widespread curfews, and on at least one day of protest, police closed nearly every highway exit from Interstate 94 into Kenosha.

Over a year after those protests and ahead of a verdict in the trial, Kenosha authorities say they have worked together to improve their response capabilities in a large-scale event, and with that, the police and sheriff's departments have strengthened relationships with state and federal resources.

On Nov. 12, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers authorized about 500 National Guard troops to be on standby near Kenosha when the verdict is announced.

"Kenoshans are strong, resilient, and have worked hard to heal and rebuild together over the past year. Any efforts to sow division and hinder that healing are unwelcome in Kenosha and Wisconsin. Regardless of the outcome in this case, I urge peace in Kenosha and across our state," Governor Tony Evers' said in a tweet Tuesday.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and first-degree attempted homicide in connection with the shooting deaths of Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and the shooting that injured Gaige Grosskreutz, 28.

On Monday, jurors heard closing arguments and Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissed a charge against Rittenhouse of possessing a dangerous weapon when under 18.

Schroeder also gave the jury the option to convict Rittenhouse for lesser charges than what the state initially asked for.

More Patch coverage of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial:

Rittenhouse Trial: Jurors Drawn From Lottery Before Deliberation

Rittenhouse Trial: Judge Allows Lesser Charges

Protests Planned Ahead Of Rittenhouse Verdict In Chicago

Suburban Police On Alert As Rittenhouse Verdict Nears

Ethan Duran, Patch Staff, contributed to reporting.