Hospital Security

[Arff312]

Hello All. I recently started working hospital security for the county heatlh suystem. I was wondering who all here works hospital security ? Also i would like to know if you are armed ? If not what do you have ? What your uniform is like and what vehicles you get ? Also are you on a repeated system or using sometype of nextels or FRS radios. I kinda want to see if our outfit is the norm or not. Also how big is your dept and how many hospitals/ facilities do you service.

We are fully armed (firearm, Taser, Baton, OC Etc.) We wear a black uniform similar to the local police. We use a couple 4x4's with blue light bars. We have a repeated system and service one main hospital and i believe it is 11 satelite facilities. We are able to issue city parking citations. All officers have training in law enforcement and some are put through the police academy each year. Our training mirrors the police academy cirriculum.

Hope to hear from yall soon and see what is out there.

[WKSecurity]

I too work hospital security. I have worked at Willis-Knighton South since september '06. Yes we are an armed Security department, although we do have one officer who is not armed due to lack of firearms training. We have a staff of 16 officers at Willis-Knighton South. Willis-Knighton also has three other hospitals in the shreveport/bossier city area. Out uniforms are modeled after Shreveport Police Department's old uniform. Our security vehicles are identical to Shreveport Police with the exception of "Willis-Knighton Police" instead of "Shreveport Police". here are a few pics.

the uniform


the car(quick sketch, the decal is really red/blue not red/gray...i'll get a real pic up soon)

[ddog]

Why do Hospital Security guards all need firearms? Is it the druggies or people who get injured, arrested, and not searched sufficiently by cops?

I guess there is a lot of undesirable types in emergency rooms from gun-shots, stabs, and overdose of bad drugs. Nearly 100% of hospitals require gun licensing for about $1 to $3 more an hour.

The SO in the picture above did not have body armor. I rarely see cops without body armor these days. Whether soldiers, law, or security guards: if you 'need' to carry firearms, then you need adequate body armour defense. And it would take a long time to buy buy body armor at $1.50 an hour (taxed). And that does not include certification and ongoing license fees.

[Arff312]

So are you police officers or security guards there. We carry weapons because we are a county health care system based in the inner city. We are a level one trauma centere, burn unit, multiple mental facilities a urgent care and several family healthcare centers. We see mental cases, gang members, druggies, homeless, families etc, The whole cross section of society. We carry weapons to be able to protect the staff and customers from the bad people.

[Hank1]

Although I would say that I have never worked in any hospital, the need for weapons are evident in my opinion. I am sure there are normal everyday hospital items and equipment that can be used as a weapon by anyone intent on hurting others.

Be safe,

Hank

[WKSecurity]

we have the firearms just in case. you never no when someone could just walk in and go apes%@t. the armed officers we have have law enforcement training. most of our officers are retired-police. we have 3 active police and sheriffs officers/deputies, and me who has been through shreveport's police academy. (which i will be going through again next july to get on the department) no i do not have a ballistics vest. The hospital doesn't provide any equipment for the officers...nor uniforms. I have had to buy everything i have. So next on the list is a vest. We are security officers, but the Shreveport Police Department and Willis-Knighton Administration thought in would be a good idea to have our vehicles modeled like Shreveport's Police units to deter crime.

[Blade Runner]

The hospital doesn't provide any equipment for the officers...nor uniforms. I have had to buy everything i have.

Hmmm, that sounds a bit shady...They actually expect you to buy your own uniforms?? I would have turned them down the second I heard that.

[N. A. Corbier]

we have the firearms just in case. you never no when someone could just walk in and go apes%@t. the armed officers we have have law enforcement training. most of our officers are retired-police. we have 3 active police and sheriffs officers/deputies, and me who has been through shreveport's police academy. (which i will be going through again next july to get on the department) no i do not have a ballistics vest. The hospital doesn't provide any equipment for the officers...nor uniforms. I have had to buy everything i have. So next on the list is a vest. We are security officers, but the Shreveport Police Department and Willis-Knighton Administration thought in would be a good idea to have our vehicles modeled like Shreveport's Police units to deter crime.

Is this why you appear to have a pistol, no additional magazines, no pepper spray, no baton, no flashlight, and maybe a pair of cuffs?

You're also carrying a concealed holster that was not designed for duty use.

[EMTGuard]

No way in heck am I buying my own uniform. If they arn't supplied I'm showing up to work in blue jeans and a old t-shirt, with sneekers.

[tlangsr]

I actually start at my hospital job next week. I haven't seen much as far as uniforms and I do know that we are not authorized to use pepper foam. I look forward to starting there and will let you all know how it is.

[Hospital Security Dude]

well lets see where to begin I work at a local hospital, Dark Navy Pants, light blue shirt with navy pocktflaps and epalets. Had to pay for everything except for badge, collar tab and radio, currently using motorola MT1000, only thing we carry is a radio and glove pouch, guess they don't want us hurting anyone. Yeah we provide real security to the hospital......Excuse me Mr gunman, please stand still while I stun you with my good looks and my clipboard. Our patrol vehicle consists of either a golf cart, extended passenger van, or 25 passender van. If there was every a shootout at our hospital they can look for me going the other way.

[WKSecurity]

Is this why you appear to have a pistol, no additional magazines, no pepper spray, no baton, no flashlight, and maybe a pair of cuffs?

You're also carrying a concealed holster that was not designed for duty use.

I have additional magazines on my left hip, Flashlight and cuffs on the rear of my belt(you can't see in the picture). I had to get a new duty belt since I lost alot of wieght so thats why im wearing the blackhawk CQC line. This was given to me. I now have a new belt and I have recontructed my "rig". so to appease the SO's are investigating...I will post a new picture up. The hospital did provide badge, radio, and jacket. I made a misprint when I said "everything". I should have said MOSTLY everything.

I currently carry:
Radio w/ mic
Glock G19 9mm
Peerless hinged cuffs
Two extra magazines
Streamlight Strion flashlight (in BDU leg pocket)

[Black Caesar]

If you want to keep your spine intact, that's the absolute worse place to put your handcuff case. Not knowing any better I set up my duty belt the same way my 1st week in the police academy (as I had wore it when I worked armed security), only to have an instructor walk up behind me and push it into my back, not hard either.

He said "If you think that hurts, wait till you either fall on it or roll over it in a fight". Just the little pressure he put on it hurt. Ever since I've worn my cuff case in front of my weapon so I don't ever have to reach behind me for anything. Nothing is on my belt from the 5 o'clock to 7'oclock positions.

[N. A. Corbier]

Indeed, you will hurt yourself or someone will hurt you with your cuff case in the small of your back.

Can someone tell me what it is with companies having their employees having 3 levels of force like this:

1) Show up
2) Talk
3) Kill

[Arff312]

My Hospital provides brand new unifoms. I actually have to go get fitted at the uniform shop this week. We just provide our duty gear.