Council approves mutual-aid MOU allowing officers to work World Cup security in Kansas City

The Warrenton City Council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the city administrator to negotiate and execute a mutual-aid memorandum of understanding with the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners for policing at FIFA World Cup matches and associated events.

Chief of Police Larry Ellard explained the arrangement: Kansas City will pay "all the direct and indirect payroll costs plus any taxes and any paid employee benefits" for officers who volunteer to work shifts while off duty. Ellard said the agreement would be temporary and that he believed it expires at the end of June; the council must still approve the MOU before officers can be assigned.

Council members asked whether officers would work on their scheduled off days, how many had signed up and how the city would prevent fatigue. Ellard said participation is voluntary on officers' off time, that the city has a policy limiting hours for employees who work 12-hour shifts and that payroll reviews will flag excessive overtime. He said only two officers had expressed interest so far and that he would provide exact sign-up numbers on request.

A council member raised whether the arrangement would affect other grants or highway traffic enforcement commitments; staff said the MOU would not affect those grants and that MoDOT manages separate traffic assignments. Ellard also noted the mutual-aid framework helps ensure insurance and liability issues are covered when officers work under another jurisdiction's command.

The ordinance (Bill 20-26) passed by roll-call vote 6–0. Council recorded no recusals on the measure. The MOU clears the way for officers who choose to work mutual-aid shifts in Kansas City to be reimbursed by Kansas City for associated payroll costs.