Leila Thompson, an adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a visiting scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, who is working on the issue of gun violence in Ferguson, called on the University to “consider carefully whether it could afford a scholarship to help address this public health issue.”

“It looks like this will be the final chapter in Missouri’s shameful history of shooting its own citizens to death,” she added.

The St. Louis County government also called for a review of the scholarship, saying in a statement that it would work with St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch and federal officials and the Department of Justice to “investigate and investigate and investigate.”

“If it turns out that there is a criminal wrongdoing, that will be pursued,” the county, which has a history of gun violence, said.

St. Louis City spokesman Mike Sothern said the city “does not have any records that would reveal the relationship between the grant and the Ferguson police department.”

A spokesperson for the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office would not comment.

Thompson also noted Ferguson has a history of domestic violence and violence in general, a concern that the scholarship might be designed to address. It’s likely the grant will seek to help create tools for domestic violence victims, she added.

Thompson said she hoped other programs, such as a program in Oakland launched this year, will work with police departments across the country.

“The truth was buried for quite awhile in cities like St. Louis, who have a history of violence against women.”