Hennepin County leaders push for stronger assault penalties against EMS workers

The Minnesota Senate's Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety convened on March 3, 2025, to discuss critical legislation aimed at enhancing protections for emergency medical service (EMS) workers and firefighters. The primary focus of the meeting was Senate File 1329, which proposes to classify assaults against these first responders as gross misdemeanors, even in the absence of demonstrable bodily harm.

Senator Seaburger opened the session by introducing Shane Hallow, President of the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs, who shared alarming statistics regarding violence faced by EMS personnel. Hallow reported that 78% of EMS workers have experienced physical assaults, with 74% having been targeted by thrown projectiles. He emphasized the increasing danger of their profession, noting a rise in reported assaults from 121 incidents in 2023 to nearly 300 in 2024.

Hallow recounted a specific incident involving two EMS workers who were attacked while returning to their ambulance in Minneapolis. An unknown assailant threw a large piece of concrete at one of the workers, narrowly avoiding serious injury. This incident exemplified the growing trend of violence against first responders, which Hallow argued not only jeopardizes their safety but also delays critical medical care for patients.

The committee viewed video footage of the attack, which highlighted the unprovoked nature of the assault and the clear identification of the EMS workers. Hallow pointed out that the current legal framework does not adequately address such violent acts, leading to frustrations during sentencing when judges feel limited in their ability to impose appropriate penalties.

Following Hallow, Ivo Tabakoff, a paramedic with nearly 12 years of experience, shared his personal experience of violence on the job. He described a harrowing encounter with a patient who attempted to assault him during transport, resulting in a severe concussion that sidelined him for over six months. Tabakoff expressed the lasting psychological impact of the incident, including ongoing trauma and nightmares.

Both Hallow and Tabakoff urged the committee to support Senate File 1329, arguing that stronger legal protections are essential to deter assaults and ensure the safety of those who serve on the front lines of emergency care. The meeting concluded with a call for action to address the urgent need for legislative change to protect first responders from escalating violence in their line of duty.