[R.O. 2004 § 200.010; Ord. No. 1.216 §§ 1 — 2, 4-22-2003]
There is hereby created the office
of Chief of Police of the City of Mount Vernon, Missouri. The Chief
of Police of Mount Vernon, Missouri, shall take office immediately
upon appointment by the Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon, Missouri.
[R.O. 2004 § 200.015; Ord. No. 9.25 §§ 1 — 4, 8-9-1994]
A.
The use of excessive force by Law Enforcement
Agencies within the City limits of Mount Vernon, Missouri, against
any individual engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations
is hereby prohibited. No Law Enforcement Agent or person shall physically
bar the entrance to or exit from such a facility or location which
is the subject of such non-violent civil rights demonstration.
B.
Any person who shall violate any of the
provisions of this Section shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance
violation and, upon conviction, shall be fined a sum not exceeding
one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation. Each day in which
any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense
and separate violation.
C.
Any person who shall violate any of the
provisions of this Section shall become liable to the City of Mount
Vernon, Missouri, for expense, loss or damage caused to the City of
Mount Vernon, Missouri, by reason of such violation.
D.
The City of Mount Vernon, Missouri, will
enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable State laws
regarding the subject matter of this Section. The City Attorney, instead
of filing a complaint in the Municipal Court of said City, may, as
an alternative remedy, file suit for legal damages or injunctive relief
in the appropriate Circuit Court of the State of Missouri.
[R.O. 2004 § 200.020; Ord. No. 1.129 §§ 1 — 5, 5-13-1986]
A.
Any Police Officer of the City of Mount
Vernon, Missouri, who completed the basic Police training program
as established by Chapter 590, RSMo., shall have the authority to
respond to an emergency situation outside the boundaries of the City.
B.
No Police Officer shall be required by
reasons of this Chapter to leave the jurisdiction to respond to an
emergency situation, but said Police Officer shall use his/her said
discretion and judgment as to leaving the City to respond to any emergency
situation. It shall be the policy of the City that said Police Officers
shall not leave the City inhabitants with inadequate Police protection
or be absent for extended periods of time, but that the response shall
be in aid of and to assist the authorities of the County or the municipality
in which the emergency situation is located. No Police Officer of
the City shall be authorized to make an arrest by reason of this authorization
to respond nor shall he/she be authorized to use his/her weapon except
to protect himself/herself or to effectuate an arrest for a serious
felony endangering the lives or threatening serious property damage
to one (1) or more persons in the area.
C.
The authority contained herein shall permit
the response by one (1) or more City Police Officers in an area surrounding
this municipality or an area of five (5) miles. The Chief of the Police
Department may in his/her discretion authorize additional response
beyond this area.
D.
Every response to an emergency situation
outside of the City shall be reported by the Chief of Police to the
Mayor with an explanation for the reason for the response.
E.
As used in this Section, "emergency situation"
means any situation in which the Law Enforcement 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 such 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 making the response or in the
discretion of an officer or governmental officer of the political
subdivision in which the emergency situation is alleged to be occurring.
F.
As used in this Section, "response" shall mean to take any and all
action which the officer may lawfully take as if exercising his/her
powers within his/her own jurisdiction.
