WELDON SPRING  •  Law enforcement agencies from Missouri and local agencies will all work in a unified command when the Ferguson grand jury decision is reached, Gov. Jay Nixon said at a press conference here Tuesday.

The Missouri National Guard will be part of that contingency planning "when we determine it is necessary to support local law enforcement," Nixon said.

Nixon said police are preparing for peaceful protests, but would also be ready to respond if things get violent.

The governor said the violence and property damage that occurred among some protesters after Michael Brown was shot and killed on Aug. 9 "were not representative of Missouri and cannot be repeated."

In anticipation of Nixon's press conference, protesters released prepared statements.

“For nearly 100 days, the preponderance of violence has come from the hands of police," said community organizer Damon Davis. "We have proven we can peacefully assemble and function at a protest, can the police say the same?” 

Added Taurean Russell, cofounder of HandsUpUnited.org: "Governer Nixon’s choice to act unilaterally in this police plan is a slap in the face to every protester who has worked tirelessly over the past 90+ days to reach peaceful solutions.”

Among their efforts, protesters have asked Nixon to appoint a special prosecutor in the case.  

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said Monday that the grand jury is still working on the case. He repeated that the grand jury would likely complete their work in mid- to late November.

Nixon also repeated at the press conference that no date has been determined for when the grand jury's decision is announced. 

Nixon was joined by Sam Dotson, the St. Louis police chief; Jon Belmar, the St. Louis County Police Chief; Capt. Ronald S. Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol and Dan Isom, the former St. Louis police chief and current director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

The grand jury is considering charges against Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown in a street that goes through Canfield Green apartments. The shooting sparked months of protests and calls for change in government, the criminal justice system and other areas to address long-standing complaints.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Jesse Bogan contributed to this report.