DeWine now sending 800 more National Guard troops to D.C.

CEDARVILLE — Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday morning authorized activation of an additional about 800 National Guard troops to the U.S. Capitol ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.

That brings the total number of Ohio National Guard soldiers and airmen sent to Washington, D.C. to 1,000, according to a Friday release from the governor's office.

The additional activation was in response to a Thursday request from the U.S. National Guard Bureau. The Ohio National Guard will support civil authorities in the Capitol with "security-related missions throughout the presidential inauguration" and provide personnel and equipment for communications and fod service, reads the release.

"Our Ohio National Guard is part of the overall defense forces in our country and has specific skills and equipment to aid the federal government in situations such as this," DeWine said. "In addition to the citizen soldiers and citizen airmen headed to our nation's capital, we have an ample number of troops who've been placed on state active duty to support local and state law enforcement as needed here in Ohio. Violence will not be tolerated."

A proclamation signed by the governor Thursday officially activated "several hundred" National Guard troops ahead of potential unrest in the state capital of Columbus or elsewhere in the state. DeWine reported that deployment at 580 troops during a Tuesday briefing.

"Ohio National Guard personnel assigned to this mission are trained, equipped and prepared to assist law enforcement authorities with protecting lives and property of citizens in Ohio while ensuring people's rights to demonstrate peacefully," said Ohio Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John Harris, Jr.

This story was originally published January 15, 2021 at 1:05 PM with the headline "DeWine now sending 800 more National Guard troops to D.C.."