State Highway Patrol orders militia report shut down

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) -- The head of the Missouri State Highway Patrol has shut down a controversial report linking right-wing groups with the modern militia movement.

The report by the Missouri Information Analysis Center portrays militia members as commonly associated with fundamental Christian, anti-abortion and anti-immigration movements. It also says members are usually supporters of various third-party presidential candidates.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder on Wednesday called on the director of the Public Safety Department to be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of the report.

Later Wednesday, Highway Patrol Superintendent James Keathley said he has halted distribution of the report to law enforcement agencies. Keathley said he is creating a new system in which he and Public Safety Department Director John Britt will review future reports before they are released.

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