Chief seeks ordinance to ban weapons in Harrisonville ambulances; item scheduled for June 16 reading

Harrisonville Fire Chief Sullivan presented a proposed ordinance to prohibit possession of dangerous weapons in city ambulances and to allow police to secure weapons until a patient is released.

Sullivan cited national figures about first-responder assaults and injuries and said Harrisonville currently has no ordinance forbidding people from bringing legally owned weapons into the back of ambulances. "Every year, across The United States ... it's 29,000 injuries [in ambulances], 8,000 severe or resulting in death," Chief Sullivan said, and described the proposal as providing parity with hospitals that disarm visitors and patients.

The item was introduced as Council Bill 29 and chief Sullivan asked the board to consider the ordinance; the board did not vote on the item and scheduled it for a reading at the June 16 meeting.

What the draft ordinance would do: According to Sullivan, it would give law enforcement the authority to take and secure weapons found in ambulances and provide specific exemptions as needed. No formal vote or final text was adopted at the May 19 meeting.

Next steps: Staff will bring the ordinance back for formal reading and possible action on June 16.