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.* fo “N ————* i —_——— , The Grand Jury finds from the evidence that the Kent Vv. State University Police Department. as presently consti- The gathering an whe Commons an May 4.1970. titan ie tit: allay ine mutt, 1S aay oa law enforcement ageney. A clear example of this inade- quacy was ihe shocking inabilily to protect the Kent City firemen who responded to the tire at the R.OLU.C. building on May 2nd. The fire was reperted to the Kent Fire Depart- ment by a University Police disgetcher. Gne squad of Kent State University Police oltteers had mobilized in an area approximately three blecks from the RAO.T.C budding. They were veahiy availabic to lead the protection to which the ‘firemen were entitled, That it was deciied by those in command not to expese their officers to risk represents More than a question of judgment: UW indicates a complete inability to cespoad in a meaner expected af any police de- partment, Phe persons whoa atiacked the firemen numbered ‘no more than 4 or 5. The total nuinber of those persons who actually attempted to fire the Mmilding did not exceed ten or twelve. It is obvious that the burning of the RO.T-C. building could have been prevente:t wilh the manpewer then available. Tf ibe burning mad been prevented it is denavata te ouerform thea Punetiane of oo GOQuatO [oO PATIar tne Gunchions af a reasonable to believe that lhe events which ioilowed on. May - 3rd and tthe vould not have occurred. The inadequacy of the Kent State University Potice De- paruinent was turther deumonstrated wath its failure ta re- spond tu the evenis which oceurred of Friday aight. May i, 1970, the carly morning of Saturday, May Jnd, and Susiday night, Mav 3rd. This is net intended to criticize aay indivi dual olfieor af that departrnert, TP (he resnonsthuity for pra- viding adequate law enforcement on campus is to ren main with an epeney physiwwally situated on Chat campna. the ulti- male comuiand. supervisien, and control of that ageney must be divested from the University administration and placed in the hands of professionaliy trained persunnel, IV. The Grand Jury finds that the events of Sunday. May 3. 1970, on cumpus and at the corner of Linculn Street and East Main Strect in Kent, Ghio. constituted a riot, The avewed PUT pase of the kk this ROGUE march into the city of Kent ia protest of. and in direct vie- lation of the 8.00 P.M. curfew established by Uie mayor of Kent. As the students atteripted to leave the campus, they were stopped af the intersection of Main and lincoln Slrects by the Ohio National Guard. Kent City Police Departinent, Obie Hirhway Patrol and the Portize County Sheriff's De- partment. The protesters tien sat down mn the street and en- gaged in their usual obscenities, rock Thirowing, and ober disorderly conduet. Tad il net been Cor the combined efforts of the law enforcement agencies prescnt. further extensive daniage to persons and property would have resulted in the city of Rent that night. After their removal from: the in- Tagt Abstr isk Cine crlee Ctweste thas Hast oat a HGR SLTeenS. ine niare oa ad wae ta WENO TS Oa wey ute fersection af rigters were dispersed by tear eas and retreated to the dormitory . complex known as Tri-Towers where some members of the mob continued to advocate furiher acts of violence and de- * struction. Ore iene weal af oh adi cag ti Te uve at Mie iv ad. iss * ly View President in choise af Student MtAigs. Sve Raat ell the persons assenibled were erdere | to disper MPU s we maions, bet tavlod tu dasa, These arders en by a iwent State Universite policeman. caused a ¥ reaction and the pathering quickiv derenerated mia a aus meb. Hois obvious that if the order to disperse been boeded, there would not live heen the conse of that fateril day. Those who aeted as partieipant agitators are gully of delibemee. criminal conduct wo were present as cheerleaders and doloakers, shal iiable for crininak acts, rust mecally assume a part ¢ responsibiliy tor what occurred, Hie di VI. We find that as of 5:28 P.M. on Saturday. May 2ne circuinstanees then present i the city of Kent, Chic cessilated the request for assistince of the National & The events which led to this roqest began wilh a phone call at 47 ALAL, May Ynd fy Mayor LeRay Sy to the Governar’s office ta Misia Bim of the ried on struction which lad taken pluce in Kent. ‘This ptrone resuited in the dispatching of an atficer of the Nv Guard lo assess the situation, As of Soon on Sntu May dad. it had been determine? by the Adpeamt G al thal the situation did not require the presence o Guard. AE 5:28 POM. on Saturday, May 2nd, Mayor Satrom catled the office of the Governor and at this time for requested lhe assistance of the Nettonal Guard. The fo which prompted Maver Satrom to make this decisisn 1. Threats by students ta duwntown merchants of 1 damage if they did not post signs on the premises » protested the war in Vietnam and Carahoedta., 2. Reports thal to carloads of members of the We: mee faction of the Students for a Demoeraue Saviety in Kent and-or the University cainbus area, 3. information that various weapons had been se the Kent State Universiwy carnipus, 4. Reports that the ROO.T.C. building. fice, and the Ariuiv Recruitiny Office burned ar otherwise destroyed, Tn addition ta teeeiving tis information, had. by this time. been advised thet substantial assis would net be availible from ony local daw cnfores agencies to assist in protecting the city and its reside We feel that it should be made clear that the Oh: tional Guard was called solely for the purpose af ass the civil authority, At no time during the period of the Kent Po: in Kent wou Mayor S. Ist through May 4th was martial law declared.