Police images fuel outrage in Missouri and beyond

In June, the American Civil Liberties Union released a report stating that police were overwhelmingly relying on SWAT raids - involving the use of assault rifles, battering rams and flash-bang grenades _ for routine work such as searching for small amounts of drugs and serving warrants. These raids, the ACLU said, disproportionately affected minorities.

In several cases, the paramilitary-style approach led to tragedy, such as a 19-month-old baby critically injured when a flash-bang grenade landed in his crib.

St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman defended the actions of the officers. "In talking to these guys, it is scary," he said. "They hear gunshots going off, and they don't know where they're coming from." He also said coins, bricks and rocks also have been thrown at police. Two officers have been injured. One had an ankle broken by a thrown brick, according to authorities.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson told The Associated Press he was so concerned about the way Ferguson officers have handled the unrest that he pulled his employees out. The city sent a 24-officer tactical squad to help control protesters Sunday and Monday night. The police chief said he was not being critical because he was not there, but the actions taken in Ferguson were not "tactics I would use in the city of St. Louis."

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Nixon announced that the Missouri State Highway Patrol would take over supervising security in Ferguson. He said the change was intended to ensure "that we use force only when necessary, that we step back a little bit."

A wide range of political figures called for calm and changes in the way protests would be monitored.

Taking a breaking from his vacation, President Barack Obama said while "emotions are raw now," there needs to be a "respect for public order and the right to peaceful public protests."

Nolan said Ferguson authorities need to scale back, get rid of the advanced weapons and the armored trucks and appeal to Brown's parents, community and religious leaders to stand with them and assure protesters and others there will be a thorough, impartial investigation into the teen's death.

"The brute force - it's not working," Nolan said.