Hospital police are specialized police agencies in the United States that provide critical law enforcement services and security to hospitals.
As a result of increased violence in the healthcare field, patients with mental health disturbances, and a wide range of civil upset occurring across the nation, hospital security often proved insufficient.
These violent incidents occasionally resulted in injury to both hospital staff and the security officers, who were often poorly trained, ineffectively led, and unprepared to respond to these turbulent and unanticipated events.
For instance, trauma centers frequently receive patients of assaults, stabbings, and shootings for emergency life-saving treatment, which often brings upset family and friends to the facilities.
Through the effects of trauma, emotional disturbances, mental health crises, and grief over injury to or loss of loved ones, hospitals experience the potential for an escalation of violence daily.
(Police search for a gunman who opened fire inside Jacobi Hospital. One person was shot, and others were just inches away from the gunfire. Courtesy of CBS New York and YouTube. Posted on Jan 25, 2022.)
Following these hospital changes, police officers were now required to meet higher training and educational standards by attending the police academy. Further training was given to these police officers to deal with hospital-specific issues, including non-violent crisis management, and de-escalation.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, along with many state and municipal-owned hospitals, have full-service law enforcement agencies, while private non-profit hospitals usually have special police or constables.
Today’s hospital police officers are better equipped to deal with hospital-specific issues, and have a detailed understanding of law enforcement within a healthcare environment.
The New York City Health and Hospitals Police (NYHP) is responsible for providing on-site security services at the 18 NYC hospitals and clinics operated by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and enforcing state and city laws at those facilities.
(Healthcare workers across the nation are facing increasing incidents of violent encounters on the job. Courtesy of KRQE and YouTube. Posted on Sep 21, 2021.)
HHC special officers have provided on-site security service at the New York City-owned hospitals since the 1940s when they were known as the City of New York Department of Hospitals security.
New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) was established in 1965 to operate New York City public hospitals. Until 1973, HHC-operated hospitals were patrolled by both hospital security officers and police officers from the New York City Police Department NYPD).
In 1980 special officers were hired and NYPD officers were removed, and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation were added to NYS Criminal Procedure Law 2.10 sub 40, and in 2015, the city of New York department of citywide administrative service application unit added this new position (HHC special officer) to New York’s civil service exam.
2020 NYC BECOMES COVID-19 CRISIS EPICENTER
(Get an inside view as ABC News was given guided access inside Maimonides Medical Center, where its chair of emergency medicine, Dr. John Marshall, said the coronavirus is unlike anything he’s treated before. Courtesy of ABC News and YouTube. Posted on Apr 18, 2020.)
The New York City Health and Hospitals Police, under the leadership of Chief Security Officer, Juan Checo, stood on the front lines of the city’s public hospitals and led the quarantine/ isolation effort.
Not only did these officers control the perimeter of each city healthcare facility, but they also responded to and assisted patients in crisis who were suffering from COVID-19.
The New York City Hospital Police stood on the front line to protect the most vulnerable populations in the city and those that provide them care.
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENEMY
How Things Have Changed:
“When the crisis started, we limited the entry points to the hospital as a precaution to help manage the needed screening and direct patients to the appropriate level of care,” explains NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Security Officer, Juan Checo.
“We also needed to limit visitors, and at some point, had to prohibit visitors altogether. We started doing temperature checks for staff, so we needed to funnel entry through one or two locations.
Impact of COVID-19:
“I’ve seen 23 of my 78 officers get COVID-19. That gives me a lot of anxiety. I believe that you have to lead by example, so I can’t hide in an office,” added Checo.
“I have to show myself and be there with them so that they see that I’m taking the same amount of risks that they’re taking. Thank God that 15 officers have already returned to work.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals staff members are doing the best that they can and have really come together to combat this pandemic. We’re all in this together.”
“I can’t say enough about my officers. I’m proud of them for their unwavering commitment to ensure the safety of our patients, staff, and community.”
“We do have our challenges during this time, but at the end of the day, our frontline workforce is committed to saving lives. We are so proud to be part of the staff here at Kings County. I see them doing this on a daily basis.”
Managing Stress:
“I was a cop for 20 years in the NYPD. I saw a lot of things, including 9/11. But, when the attacks happened, we tried to save people, then it became a recovery effort, concluded Checo.
“With COVID-19, it seems endless. I end my day, and I know that tomorrow I’m coming back, and it’s still going to be here. It’s been that way for several weeks now.”
“That’s what gets to me. That’s what stresses me out. My family is a great support group. I couldn’t ask for anything better. My daughter, Lauren, 29, will sit with me and watch a movie to decompress. She’s supposed to get married in August. I don’t know if she will. Fingers crossed.”***
(A year ago, NYC was the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst was the epicenter of the epicenter. A year later, we’re on the cusp of winning this fight due to our Health Care Heroes on the front lines. Courtesy of NYC Health and Hospitals and YouTube.)
To Learn More, please visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org.
***Courtesy of NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
NYC Health + Hospitals was Nominated in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, by Thomas Egan, |
Mr. Egan has also submitted guest editorial to AST. (See ‘Hospitals: We Have a Bigger Problem than Guns (Learn More, Multi-Video)‘ at bottom.)
NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health care delivery system in the United States dedicated to providing the highest quality health care services to all New Yorkers with compassion, dignity, and respect, and regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.
NYC Health + Hospitals are an integrated network of hospitals, community-based health centers, long-term care, and rehabilitation facilities, home care services, correctional health services, and a health plan, MetroPlus.
Their diverse team of 45,000 health care professionals, provides culturally responsive care to more than one million patients every year in more than 70 patient care locations across the five boroughs of New York City.
(What a monumental day at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue as they gave out their first COVID-19 vaccine to an infant/toddler ages six months to four years! Assistant Vice President of Ambulatory Care Dr. Hannah Jackson brought her 9-month-old daughter in to get vaccinated. Courtesy of NYC Health and Hospitals and YouTube. Posted on Jun 24, 2022.)
As a safety net health system, NYC Health + Hospitals are committed to making health care accessible and affordable, focused on health and wellness with an emphasis on keeping communities healthy, not just treating injury or illness.
NYC Health + Hospitals advance health equity by consistently addressing social determinants of health, ensuring workforce diversity, and creating models of care that remove barriers for special populations experiencing a disproportionate burden of illness.
Their skilled clinicians offer the full continuum of care, including primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, and specialty services in every area of medicine, to improve the health of the communities they serve and help all New Yorkers live their healthiest life.
NYC Health and Hospitals Police Nominated in 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now entering its Seventh Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.
These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.
And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.
As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads more than 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
(Hear a recent interview with Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino held at Identity Week Europe on leveraging biometric comparison technology in U.S. air, maritime, and land border environments for the security of passengers, enhancing the customer experience and limiting the transmission of biological pathogens while respecting personal privacies and educating the public as the CBP further expands the implementation of biometrics to keep up with threats to the aviation and other border sectors. These new technological tools are there to automate administrative functions so that the most valuable component of the process, the officers, are able to focus on critical issues as they arise. Courtesy of evie kim sing and YouTube. Posted on Jul 13, 2022.)
Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters
So be on the lookout for Special Guests, Presenters, Book Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2022 in NYC!
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
The United States forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000-member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.
Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton of the New York Police Department, the Boston Police Department, and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department was also live at the event, meeting with attendees and signing copies of his latest work ‘The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America,’ courtesy of the generosity of our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Premier Sponsors.
The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS),
New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, and IPVideo Corporation, and
Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, RX Global, and SIMS Software!
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields, which included:
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
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ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)
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Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
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The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
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Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
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DHS Science & Technology (S&T)
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The National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH)
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The American Red Cross
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The InfraGard National Alliance
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The Metropolitan Police (MPD)
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The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
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Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS)
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The Federal Air Marshals Service
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The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.
Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government, and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.
This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, make ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.
Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo.
Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins include:
AlertMedia, Allied Universal, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems of America, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, HID Global, Mark43, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Lumina Analytics, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Senstar Corporation, ShotSpotter, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and Wiresecure, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
(See just a few highlights of American Security Today’s 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East. Courtesy of My Pristine Images and Vimeo.)
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review.’
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
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Learn More…
Hospitals: We Have a Bigger Problem than Guns (Learn More, Multi-Video)
