Section 36-21-20

Governor authorized to call out municipal police to preserve peace, etc., within state in case of riots, etc.

Whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor that there has occurred or there is reasonable cause to apprehend at any place within the state the outbreak of any riot, rout, tumult, insurrection, mob or combination to oppose the enforcement of the laws or to break the peace by force or violence which cannot be speedily suppressed or effectually prevented by the ordinary posse comitatus and peace officers or there shall be an assemblage of persons over 10 in number with intent to commit a felony or to offer violence to person or property or with intent to oppose or resist by force or violence the execution of the laws of the state or any lawful process of any court or officer thereof or the due execution of any legal ordinance or bylaw of any municipal corporation and that there is not present at the locality a sufficient force of peace officers to preserve the peace and to enforce the laws, the Governor may call to his aid and to the aid of the local peace authorities such number of police, patrolmen or police officers of any town or city as he may deem necessary and order them to the locality where needed to preserve the peace and arrest and prosecute according to law any person violating the laws of the state.

(Acts 1919, No. 170, p. 163, § 1; Code 1923, §920; Code 1940, T. 55, §374.)