Armed security coming to St. Joseph’s Hospital

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — On July 3, In an email to NewsChannel 9 St. Joseph’s Health confirmed that they have increased partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement in an effort to to recruit and attract retired law enforcement officers to key security roles.

Security officers will be trained to take a more authoritative role in decision-making to prevent workplace violence events.

“St. Joseph’s Health (SJH) has an obligation to keep our colleagues and those we serve safe,” Meredith Price, Senior Vice President of Acute Operations said “We examine safety and security measures on an ongoing basis. In this fiscal year, we will implement several new safety measures to enhance the physical safety and security of our colleagues, patients, and visitors.”

A part of the new security launched will be a program to place armed senior security officers in the Hospital.

Senior security officers, a new job category at SJH, are former law enforcement professionals, licensed by New York state, and required to take an annual training course.

“Having armed security guards on our campus will allow for an immediate response until further assistance arrives,” said Price. “The decision to arm security guards followed months of research and deliberate discussion.”

Price also said that their programs will follow laws governing the use and carry of firearms in certain areas of the hospital. In areas where firearms are prohibited, quick-lock boxes will be available for officers outside the unit.

In addition to hiring new security, SJH will be introducing Behavioral Emergency Support Team (BEST) Huddles, an interdisciplinary model with representatives from social work, case management, security, and chaplains.

The program aims at identifying patients/families who are escalating, then responding and engaging with them to develop a contract of acceptable behavior before violence occurs.

“We want our Hospital to be a transforming, healing presence within our community,” said Price. “It is our responsibility to create a workplace environment in which our colleagues feel safe and are able to care for patients without the threat of violence.”

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