Roper St. Francis Considers Employing Armed Police Officers
After a man used an officer’s taser and injured a nurse, the hospital is now considering employing police officers who can carry weapons.
Officials at Roper St. Francis Hospital in South Carolina are considering placing armed police officers in all of their hospitals.
Currently, the hospital only employs private security officers who carry tasers, reports Live 5 News.
The hospital is working with the Charleston Police Department to talk all things hospital security, said Brian DeRoy, a Roper St. Francis spokesman.
Considerations for bringing in armed officers come after a patient grabbed a taser out of a security officers’ holster in June.
According to police, the gun hit a hospital worker in the food and the man was charged with third-degree assault and battery.
Hospital Vice President Anthony Jackson said called on South Carolina lawmakers to pass legislation that would result in “enhanced penalties for violence against healthcare workers,” in a statement shared by WCSC.
DeRoy is also in the midst of speaking with officials at nearby hospitals to learn about their security situation.
A spokesperson from the Medical University of South Caroline (MUSC) said its hospitals use unarmed guards inside the facilities but that armed MUSC Public Safety officers are on staff.
A spokesperson from Trident Medical Center said they use North Charleston police officers as well as their own armed security at the North Charleston and Summerville facilities.
East Cooper Medical Center shared they use private armed and unarmed security officers for their hospital.
DeRoy added that Roper St. Francis officials plan to meet with Mt. Pleasant police officials to discuss security options.
How much do you know about hospital security? Take our quiz to find out! Whether you’re a nurse, doctor, security manager, director of public safety, facilities manager or IT director, knowing the answers to these hospital safety and security questions will benefit your facility, your patients and yourself.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
About the Author
Katie Malafronte, Web Editor
Katie Malafronte is Campus Safety's Web Editor. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Writing & Rhetoric. Katie has been CS's Web Editor since 2018.
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
