Demonstrators gather in front of the White House to deliver nearly 950,000 signatures August 28, 2014 in Washington, DC. The demonstrators called on the Justice Department to fully investigate, prosecute, and fire all police officers involved in the fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Demonstrators gather in front of the White House to deliver nearly 950,000 signatures August 28, 2014 in Washington, DC. The demonstrators called on the Justice Department to fully investigate, prosecute, and fire all police officers involved in the fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

With a grand jury decision on indicting officer Darren Wilson expected to be announced this evening, D.C. police are preparing for possible demonstrations in the city.

Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown—an unarmed black teenager—in August, and the incident has since sparked mass protests in the town, as well as a nationwide conversation about the state of institutional racism and police brutality.

The grand jury’s decision on whether or not to indict Wilson is expected to be announced at 7 p.m. local time and demonstrations nationwide are already planned. In D.C., the National Black United Front along with other groups are planning to convene in Mt. Vernon Square on Tuesday.

The Metropolitan Police Department is already preparing. According to a memo obtained by Fox 5, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier says that all leave is restricted for officers today and tomorrow, unless it’s been pre-approved. Other measures have also been taken by Lanier:

She has also activated 17 civil disturbance platoons and told all members of the special operations division they will be working those days.

Special operations include K-9, the bomb squad and the emergency response team.

The chief has also deployed the electronic surveillance unit which has the capability of recording any protest or demonstration.

Though Lanier has not officially commented on these precautions and if they’re because of expected protests, she did cancel a speaking engagement she had at The Kennedy Political Union at American University tonight:

Filed Under: cathy lanier, darren wilson, ferguson, metropolitan police department, michael brown,