Nearly three years after the I-Team exposed regular attacks on Chicago paramedics, a new city ordinance is finally in the works to protect them and all first responders.
Under the proposed ordinance, city hate crime laws would be expanded to protect police, fire and EMS crews. Paramedics say that incidents that keep them from doing their jobs and endanger their lives happen roughly once a day.
"It's so unpredictable," paramedic Brandy Kasper said.
"Six people turned into 12, a mini mob kind of formed, and the physical violence started," paramedic Larry Kaczmarek said.
"We had nothing. No warning," paramedic Melanie Howe said.
Now, relief is proposed in an expansion of Chicago's hate crime law to include current, former police and fire officers and emergency crew members. It would also include an increase in fines for those who attack first responders and convicted violators would face up to six months in prison.