The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services wants to upgrade the outdated public address system at the state psychiatric hospital, where a fatal shooting occurred in November. (Annmarie Timmins | New Hampshire Bulletin)
The Department of Health and Human Services is hoping to use nearly $12.4 million in federal money to address security shortcomings revealed during November’s fatal shooting of a state hospital guard and to accommodate the addition of a new forensic hospital.
The proposed security enhancements would include installing cameras in areas that are not currently monitored and upgrades to the outdated public address system. In her funding request to the Executive Council, Commissioner Lori Weaver said the ability to communicate throughout the hospital following the Nov. 17 shooting was “lacking.”
“The inadequacy of the system causes significant safety risks to both patients and staff,” Weaver wrote.
The new system would include speakers throughout all corridors, offices, and conference rooms, Weaver wrote, enabling all staff to hear emergency announcements and act appropriately and timely to mitigate risks.
The Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee approved Weaver’s request earlier this month, but the department also needs approval from the Executive Council, which is expected to take it up Friday.
Friday, the Attorney General’s Office released its 44-page investigative report of the incident, during which former patient John Madore, 33, fatally shot security officer Bradley Haas, 63, who was unarmed per hospital policy. State Trooper Nathan Sleight, who was stationed at the hospital, responded and fatally shot Madore.
The Attorney General’s Office determined Sleight’s use of deadly force was justified because Madore continued shooting after hitting Haas and ignored Slieght’s order to drop his weapon.
Weaver’s staff is working with the Department of Safety to add armed security on the hospital campus.
The new forensic hospital , scheduled to be completed next year, will put new demands on the state hospital’s kitchen, Weaver told councilors. The federal money would be used to create a new kitchen in the forensic hospital for both facilities.
The 24-bed secure forensic hospital will treat patients currently held at the state prison who have committed a crime but cannot stand trial because of a mental illness; been found not guilty at trial because of their illness; and people who have not broken the law but are too dangerous to be treated in a conventional setting like the state hospital.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Most Popular
Comments / 0