Possible de-escalation in Ferguson as two police departments pull out

Two local police departments will no longer provide support in Ferguson, Missouri — a move that comes during mounting criticisms of law enforcement's heavy-handed tactics against protesters.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) confirmed Thursday that the St. Louis County Police Department, which was in charge during Wednesday night's protests, would be removed from Ferguson.

St. Louis Public Radio reporter Rachel Lippmann confirmed the St. Louis Police Department also won't be involved with the protests on Thursday night:

.@ChiefSLMPD says @SLMPD will not be providing any support in #Ferguson tonight. (1/2)

— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) August 14, 2014

(2/2) Partly b/c of events scheduled for city, but also b/c personal values have conflicted w/ support for fellow officers.

— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) August 14, 2014

Earlier in the day, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said he would be "reframing" the police's chain of command in the area. These announcements are, presumably, part of those changes in tactics.

For more information about the situation in Ferguson, read Vox's full explainer.

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