The Kansas Fire Department paramedic who was seen hitting a patient returned to work after his union intervened

A paramedic with the Kansas City Fire Department was caught by surveillance cameras repeatedly hitting a patient in the head with a laptop computer, but was able to return to work weeks after being discharged by the department.

In footage taken in April 2021 and obtained by the Kansas City Star, the medical technician and unidentified patient were seen entering an emergency room as a verbal argument escalated.

The patient was repeatedly beaten on the head and body, thrown to the ground and eventually held by hospital security – it’s not clear if he sustained any injuries.

In September 2021, paramedic Peter Hansen was fired from the Kansas City Fire Department for his conduct, but within weeks his union stepped in and he got his job back under a “federal arbitration,” the fire department said.

Since returning to the fire service, Hansen has become a fireman.

A paramedic with the Kansas City Fire Department, Peter Hansen, was caught by surveillance cameras repeatedly hitting a patient in the head with a laptop

The unidentified patient was hit several times on the head and body as he was pushed back and to the ground by the paramedic

The incident happened in April 2021 after Hansen arrived at University Health Truman Medical Center in Kansas City with the patient and a colleague (pictured).

The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42 argued that other KCFD employees had been involved in similar incidents and that Hansen had been singled out by the department. It was also said that he acted in self-defense.

It was later ruled by a union-appointed arbitrator that Hansen would be reinstated for failing to receive de-escalation and anger management training.

“Despite our best efforts, the federal arbitration initiated by IAFF Local 42 resulted in the reinstatement of the affected employee,” a fire department spokesman told the Kansas City Star.

“While we accepted this decision to maintain a positive working relationship with our union, our commitment to accountability and fairness remains unchanged.” they added.

The altercation was caught on three separate security cameras at the entrance to University Health Truman Medical Center in Kansas City.

It showed the ambulance pulling into the hospital lobby before Hansen got out, laptop/tablet in hand.

He was wearing a dark blue KCFD T-shirt with the words “Win Some Lose Some” written on the back and was accompanied by another fire department paramedic who had also been in the ambulance.

The two were seen conversing just before Hansen led the patient to the sliding doors of the emergency room. A second paramedic was also present

After the fight, Hansen was seen in surveillance footage of the Kansas City Star pacing in circles and checking his elbow for injuries

He and the patient appeared to be having a brief conversation before Hansen led him to the building’s sliding doors. When he pushed a button to open the doors, the fight broke out and the two bumped into each other at least once.

Then Hansen swung the pill, which he was holding by the handle in his right hand, into the patient’s head.

The patient raised his arms to protect his face, but as he did so, Hansen forcibly pushed him backwards, causing him to stumble out of camera view. As he was pushed back, Hanses kept swinging the board.

The second paramedic watched and followed the couple out of camera view.

Moments later, three security guards burst outside and the patient was handcuffed while he lay face down on the ground. While security guards held the patient, Hansen paced in circles, examining his elbow to see if it had been injured.

When armed hospital security guards responded, the patient was handcuffed while he lay face down on the floor

The KCFD said Hansen was fired on September 29, 2021 after reviewing the evidence and a recommendation from then-Fire Chief Donna Lake.

It was alleged that he violated the department’s zero-tolerance policy on “acts of violence” by intentionally hitting the patient multiple times with the pill.

“At KCFD, we are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of our community. When an incident occurred that violated city guidelines, we acted quickly by conducting an internal investigation to determine the facts,” the KCFD spokesman told the Kansas City Star.

In their complaint, filed by Local 42 on Hansen’s behalf, the union leaders said the city had no valid reason to terminate Hansen as he was not given due process.

They also said the city violated rights granted to Hansen as a tenured KCFD employee.

“Furthermore, the union believes that for reasons unknown, Hansen was singled out and treated differently from other workers in a similar situation,” it said.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk