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City of Washington, MO
Franklin County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[R.O. 1992 § 630.010; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018[1]]
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions and rules of construction shall apply:
ARMED GUARD
Any person employed or retained in any manner, who is provided, required, or allowed to carry any firearm defined as such by Chapter 571, Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit carrying of concealed weapons.
CHIEF
The Chief of Police or the Chief's designated subordinates.
CONVICTION
Includes a plea of guilty or a finding of guilty followed by a suspended imposition of sentence.
PATROL, GUARD OR WATCHMAN SERVICE
Any person who furnishes the services of another for the purposes of protection of property. The term shall include those who promote such services.
SECURITY FIRM
Any patrol, guard or watchman service business which furnishes the services of an armed guard to another person or which employs an armed guard in performing services for another person.
SECURITY GUARD
Any person employed by a patrol, guard or watchman service for the purpose of protecting property, who is unarmed while performing such duties.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Chapter 630, Security Guards, containing Sections 630.010 through 630.100 was repealed 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 18-11960.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.020; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
No person shall operate as an armed guard or as a security guard in the City without first obtaining a license from the Washington Police Department.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.030; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as applying to an armed guard or security guard who is only temporarily in the City, provided that he/she is not present as an armed guard or security guard within the City more than fourteen (14) days within any six-month period.
B. 
Nor shall this Chapter apply to any bona fide Law Enforcement Officer of an agency on the training approved list as certified by the Chief and on file in his/her office.
C. 
Any person who performs security guard services as a part of his/her regular duties in the course of his/her normal employment and whose employer is not a patrol, guard or watchman service shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.040; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Application for armed guard and security guard licenses shall be made upon blank forms prepared and made available by the Washington Police Department and shall state:
1. 
The full name, age, residence, present and previous occupations of applicant;
2. 
A specific description of the location of the principal place of business of the applicant;
3. 
The extent of training and experience the applicant has had with firearms, if the applicant is seeking an armed guard license;
4. 
The length of time applicant has been a bona fide citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Missouri immediately preceding the filing of the application;
5. 
A specific description and if available, a picture or duplicate of the uniform, badge, shoulder patch, identification card and any logo or insignia to be used by applicant;
6. 
Such other information as the Chief shall find reasonably necessary to effectuate the general purpose of this Chapter and to make a fair determination of whether the terms hereof have been complied with.
B. 
Applications required hereunder shall be accompanied by the applicable fee as set forth in Section 630.055.
C. 
Applications shall be accompanied by a full set of fingerprints made by an approved law enforcement agency and a photograph. The applicant shall also provide a current criminal record check obtained from the Missouri Highway Patrol Criminal Records section.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.050; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Security guard license applicants shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age; armed guard license applicants shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.
B. 
Armed guard license applicants and security guard license applicants have the burden of demonstrating good moral character. If an applicant has been convicted of a felony within the past ten (10) years or any ordinance violation involving theft, violence, drugs or sexual abuse within the past five (5) years, the Chief may deny the license after considering the nature of the crime committed in relation to the license sought, the conduct of the applicant since the violation and other evidence as to the applicant's character.
C. 
Any person applying for an armed guard license shall be determined by the Chief to have met or exceeded adequate standards for firearms safety, knowledge of the law with regard to the use of firearms, and firearms skills commensurate with public safety. Such determination shall be based on the following criteria:
Have, within the last calendar year passed with a score of at least seventy percent (70%) on each section of a test provided by and administered by the Chief said test to include written sections on firearms safety, firearms law, and firearms skills and a shooting section on firearm safety and firearms skills, and a qualifying course of fire, the standards of which shall be set out in regulations promulgated by the Chief. The handgun and ammunition used in the qualifying course of fire shall be the same as the handgun and ammunition that will be carried while the applicant is performing his/her duties as an armed guard.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.051; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
The above described test shall be provided by and administered by the Chief within thirty (30) calendar days of the application for license.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.052; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
The Chief shall act upon each application under this Chapter and, if disapproved, he/she shall notify the applicant within seven (7) calendar days of his/her action stating the reasons for denial of the license and include a copy of test results.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.053; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Any person aggrieved by the denial of any license issued under this Chapter shall have the right to appeal the decision pursuant to the following procedure:
1. 
Attend a hearing held with the Chief, City Attorney and City Administrator to present the argument against denial. Said hearing to be held within fifteen (15) days of the filing for appeal. Findings of this hearing shall be final.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.054; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
If a person shall meet or exceed the standards described in Section 630.050 above, the Chief may not deny that individual a license based on the criteria set forth in said Section.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.055; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
The following table of fees shall apply to this Chapter:
1. 
Application/reapplication and testing:
Security guards: thirty dollars ($30.00).
Armed guards: sixty dollars ($60.00).
2. 
Yearly renewal or retest:
Security Guard: fifteen dollars ($15.00).
Armed Guards: thirty dollars ($30.00).
B. 
Failure of the written or shooting tests shall require retesting. Failure of both tests shall require reapplication and successful testing prior to issuance of a license.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.056; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
Each license issued hereunder shall be valid for one (1) calendar year, or until a new license is issued, whichever is sooner.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.057; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
In the event that any information is falsely given in an application for a license, or that a license illicitly gained or retained, or if any licensee shall be or become ineligible to possess a license under standards set out in this Chapter, is found guilty of any charge involving the misuse of firearms, or becomes manifestly or demonstrably incapable of meeting the safety, law, or skills standards, or if a licensee shall willfully conceal information or facts concerning such matters, or fails to maintain the surety bond required hereunder, such license shall be subject to immediate revocation. The Chief shall immediately give notice of revocation and afford the licensee opportunity to be heard by the Chief. The Chief is empowered to conduct ongoing investigations to determine any licensee's continued fitness to hold any license issued hereunder.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.058; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Each person licensed hereunder shall carry on his/her person at all times while on duty, and display upon request of any Police Officer, a currently valid Armed Guard License. In the event that a licensee comes into official contact with a Police Officer, said guard shall display said license automatically and without request.
B. 
No person issued a license hereunder shall wear any uniform or insignia which is substantially similar to that of any uniform of any law enforcement agency operating in Franklin County, Missouri, nor shall any licensee hold himself/herself out to be a member of any such law enforcement agency.
C. 
Armed guards shall report to the Chief the circumstances surrounding any discharge of firearms within the territorial limits of the City of Washington within twenty-four (24) hours.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.059; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Any person/business who shall employ or retain any armed guard or security guard who does not possess a current license, or any person/business who shall conceal in any manner any information or facts concerning the validity of any such license, or any person/business who shall instigate, authorize, or allow the use of firearms or ammunition other than the type with which the test, upon which such license is based, was taken, shall be guilty of an ordinance violation.
B. 
Any armed guard or security guard who does not have a valid armed guard or security guard license respectively upon his/her person while on duty, shall be guilty of an ordinance violation.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.060; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed, be ineligible for a period of thirty (30) calendar days to apply for a new license.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.061; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
A. 
Armed guards, security guards and patrol, guard or watchman services shall maintain general liability insurance for damages in consequence of operating as armed guards security guards or patrol, guard or watchman services in the minimum amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) for all claims arising out of a single occurrence. No armed guard, security guard or patrol, guard or watchman service business license shall be issued by the business license administrator until the applicant has presented to the licensing authority a liability insurance policy or certificate of insurance evidencing compliance with the insurance requirements of this Section.
B. 
Patrol, guard or watchman services which provide insurance coverage for any armed guard or security guard employee shall notify the business license supervisor whenever such an employee leaves his/her employment with the patrol, guard or watchman service. The notice required by this Subsection shall be given, in writing, no later than three (3) business days after the employee leaves his/her employment.
C. 
Those holding armed guard, security guard or patrol, guard or watchman service licenses shall maintain the requisite insurance in effect at all times.
[R.O. 1992 § 630.062; Ord. No. 18-11960, 12-17-2018]
Armed guards licensed under this Chapter are expressly prohibited from carrying, wearing or otherwise possessing a rifle, shotgun, or any other projectile-type weapon except a handgun while performing the duties of an armed guard. All handguns used by armed guards shall be limited to the following calibre of ammunition:
.38
.357
.380
.38 Super
9mm
.45 ACP
.40