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.
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