Former St. Louis County Police Chief and Republican councilman Tim Fitch is calling for the National Guard to be deployed in St. Louis to help combat the city’s ongoing crime crisis.
During an interview Friday on NewsNation’s On Balance, host Leland Vittert asked Fitch why governors in states like Missouri and Louisiana — both led by Republicans who strongly support President Trump — haven’t yet called up their National Guard units to address violent crime.
“That’s a good question,” Fitch replied. “What I would say, President Trump, if you’re watching tonight, please bring your troops to St. Louis. We need the help in the city of St. Louis.”
Vittert noted that the Missouri governor already has the authority to deploy the state’s National Guard without federal intervention. “You wouldn’t even need his troops. You could do it with Missouri National Guardsmen ordered by the governor, and there’s not anything anybody could say about it,” he said.
Fitch acknowledged the point but praised Trump for sending more federal resources to the region. “Yeah, well, one thing he did do was increase the number of FBI agents that we have assigned to St. Louis. So, that’s already happened. And that’s happening as we speak. So, we’re going to see more federal law enforcement officers in the St. Louis region, which is very welcomed.”
St. Louis consistently ranks among the most violent cities in America, with high per-capita rates of homicides and violent crime. Calls for additional law enforcement support — whether through the National Guard or federal officers — continue to grow as local leaders grapple with how to stem the violence.
