I've been to HarborZOO before, and can attest to the fact that it can indeed be a hellhole. Two officers I know who work/worked there (one was medically retired after being thrown through a window in a fight there) can tell you some real horror stories.
I think it's funny that the officer in the story, Magliocchetti, earns around $3000 a month, and the "spokeswoman", who in reality is an "associate vice president", earns over $11000 a month. I'm sure she knows all about contacting an enraged crackhead in the ER at 0300.
Hospital disputes security officers' claims about violence
06:11 PM PDT on Friday, August 31, 2007
By KIM HOLCOMB / KING 5 News
SEATTLE – Harborview Medical Center is responding to public complaints by some employees that the hospital isn't doing enough to protect patients and staff from violence.
Friday afternoon, public safety officers at the hospital, through their union, began passing out flyers in hopes of forcing a change.
The flyers say Harborview shouldn't hurt you.
"In one fight, I received two breaks in my thumb," said Giovanni Magliocchetti.
He has worked at Harborview for more than three years after spending over 20 years in federal and local law enforcement.
"To tell you the truth, I've been in a lot more fights here than I ever was on the street," said Magliocchetti.
KING 5 News obtained surveillance video showing the kind of violence the officers refer to, both outside and within the hospital.
Some officers say they're not adequately trained or equipped to deal with the type of behavior they encounter, but a hospital spokeswoman says otherwise.
"We have a very robust training program for our public safety officers," said Tina Mankowski, who says the officers are trained in "de-escalation" techniques and, other than an issued baton, no other protective tools are necessary. Ultimately, these officers are not cops.
"If they want to be something different, like a commissioned police officer, then perhaps they should go to the Seattle Police Department and look for employment there," said Mankowski.
The officers say they want to stay at Harborview, but they also want to feel like they can protect themselves as well as the public.
"I plan on doing my job as I have when I started here," said Magliocchetti.
The officers say they'd like to be armed with tasers or pepper gel, a variation of pepper spray. The hospital says the officers have what they need, and that the security practices are constantly reviewed.
Public safety officers say statistics show there have been 15 assaults at Harborview in the past 60 days. Hospital officials say the statistics can be misleading.
I think it's funny that the officer in the story, Magliocchetti, earns around $3000 a month, and the "spokeswoman", who in reality is an "associate vice president", earns over $11000 a month. I'm sure she knows all about contacting an enraged crackhead in the ER at 0300.
Hospital disputes security officers' claims about violence
06:11 PM PDT on Friday, August 31, 2007
By KIM HOLCOMB / KING 5 News
SEATTLE – Harborview Medical Center is responding to public complaints by some employees that the hospital isn't doing enough to protect patients and staff from violence.
Friday afternoon, public safety officers at the hospital, through their union, began passing out flyers in hopes of forcing a change.
The flyers say Harborview shouldn't hurt you.
"In one fight, I received two breaks in my thumb," said Giovanni Magliocchetti.
He has worked at Harborview for more than three years after spending over 20 years in federal and local law enforcement.
"To tell you the truth, I've been in a lot more fights here than I ever was on the street," said Magliocchetti.
KING 5 News obtained surveillance video showing the kind of violence the officers refer to, both outside and within the hospital.
Some officers say they're not adequately trained or equipped to deal with the type of behavior they encounter, but a hospital spokeswoman says otherwise.
"We have a very robust training program for our public safety officers," said Tina Mankowski, who says the officers are trained in "de-escalation" techniques and, other than an issued baton, no other protective tools are necessary. Ultimately, these officers are not cops.
"If they want to be something different, like a commissioned police officer, then perhaps they should go to the Seattle Police Department and look for employment there," said Mankowski.
The officers say they want to stay at Harborview, but they also want to feel like they can protect themselves as well as the public.
"I plan on doing my job as I have when I started here," said Magliocchetti.
The officers say they'd like to be armed with tasers or pepper gel, a variation of pepper spray. The hospital says the officers have what they need, and that the security practices are constantly reviewed.
Public safety officers say statistics show there have been 15 assaults at Harborview in the past 60 days. Hospital officials say the statistics can be misleading.
Comment