Gov. Evers sending National Guard troops to state capitol in Madison

Members of the Wisconsin National Guard Reaction Force will support Capitol Police in Madison this week. | Photo: Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

WDIO
Updated: January 11, 2021 04:46 PM
Created: January 11, 2021 04:42 PM

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) is sending National Guard troops to support the Capitol Police in Madison.

They will be there to "support safety and security efforts," a press release said.

Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, the Wisconsin National Guard's adjutant general, said they would not release troop numbers, timelines, equipment, tactics or procedures "to protect operational security."

Soldiers going are part of the Wisconsin National Guard's Reaction Force. They are trained to respond to requests for help on short notice.

"We ask a lot of our troops who must take leave from their civilian employers and their families," Maj. Gen. Knapp said, "and I'm proud of the sacrifices they make on a daily basis to serve their fellow citizens."

Security is being stepped up at many state capitols as the FBI warns about possible armed demonstrations leading up to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration Jan. 20.