0968 – Enable Police Officers-Emergency Outside City Limits

ORDINANCE 968 

AN ORDINANCE TO ENABLE POLICE OFFICERS OF THE CITYOF RICH HILL, MISSOURI, TO ACT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS

            WHEREAS, the Missouri General Assembly enacted in 1987 a law known as Senate Bill No. 372 which, among other things, provided that a police officer is authorized to act in emergency situations outside the corporate limits of the municipality, provided that certain legislative authorizations are granted; and

            WHEREAS,    the City of Rich Hill desires to provide efficient police protection to the citizens of this community, to those living near this community and to those visiting this community; and

            WHEREAS, the City of Rich Hill desires to authorize its municipal police officers to respond in emergency situations outside the boundaries of the municipality; and

            WHEREAS, most of the police officers employed by the City of Rich Hill have received the basic training required by Chapter 590 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, said training being a prerequisite to the authority of a police officer to respond outside the City limits.

            WHEREAS, the City of Rich Hill/County of Bates/Board of Aldermen has or is expected to pass legislation allowing police officers of the City of Rich Hill to respond to emergencies in the fashion provided herein;

           NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Ordained by the Board of Alderman of the City of Rich Hill, Missouri, as follows:

            Section 1.  Any police officer of the City of Rich Hill, Missouri, who has completed the basic training program as established by Chapter 590 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri shall have the authority to respond to an emergency situation outside the boundaries of the City of Rich Hill; provided, however, that such jurisdictions described in Section 3 below.  As provided herein, “emergency situation” means any situation in which the police officer has a reasonable belief that a crime is about to be committed, is being committed, or has been committed involving injury or threat of injury to any person, property, or governmental interest, and the officer’s response is reasonably necessary to prevent or end such emergency situation or mitigate the likelihood of injury involved in such emergency situation.  The determination of the existence of any emergency situation shall be in the discretion of the officer.

            Section 2.  The term “response” as used in this ordinance, shall mean to take any and all action, which the police officer may lawfully take as if exercising normal powers within the City of Rich Hill.

            Section 3.  The authority contained herein shall permit the response by one or more City of Rich Hill police officers in any of the following jurisdictions within the State of Missouri until the emergency situation has been adequately taken into control, in the discretion of the officer, by another appropriate jurisdiction.

            Section 4.  Every response to an emergency situation outside the City limits of Rich Hill, Missouri, shall be reported by the Chief of Police to the Mayor, with an explanation of the reason for the response.

            Section 5.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within this ordinance, if the County Commission of Bates County, Missouri, had not passed appropriate legislation authorizing police officers of the City of Rich Hill to respond within that jurisdiction within 60 days of the date hereof, then this ordinance shall be void and of no effect whatsoever as to the authority of the officers of the City of Rich Hill to respond within that jurisdiction.

            Section 6.  All ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

            Section 7.  This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the 8th day of December 1987

_______________________________________

William Thelen-Mayor

_______________________________________

Tammy Williams-City Clerk

No voting record