I am a former Officer from Harborview. On May 2nd of this year I was terminated for an incident that occured on March 9th. I had been assaulted, punched and choked. This led to me doing what I was trained to do and needed to do to protect myself. I struck the assailant twice in the leg with my ASP baton. Witnesses stated that I struck him in the head with my baton, but even he disagreed with that. I was a Shop Steward that also was very vocal about how unsafe it was. You see, I had been injured to the point of hospitalization twice, and had checked into the emergency room more than a dozen times since being hired. I was the subject of a memo from administration stating that I was guilty of reporting every little incident such as getting kicked or spit on. How many people at work in their jobs would get in trouble for reporting getting spit on? We were trained and told not to engage people unless in self defense. I did this, I was being choked so I hit him with my baton. To save my own life. Administration told me that I was to have disengaged (read: run away) from the subject. Once he started hitting me i should have simply left him and run away to leave him to possibly assault others in the area.

This is the harborview mindset.

I am also a former Officer of Harborview Medical Center. I have worked with former Officer Coonradt and have on several ocassions been assaulted as well. I have also checked into the emergency room at HMC for being assaulted. I also have been punched, kicked, spit on, had urine thrown at me and been stabbed by a psyhc patient with a fork.

I had also been very vocal about the safety issues that surounded the horrific working conditions only to be ridiculed by command staff for doing so. Afterwords I was labeled as a "DISCRUNTLED employee.
Officers want better training, other tools besides a baton and more clearly defined authority.

I was an advocate fof the Taser, which I was told on several ocassions to stop talking about by command staff. I was told that you cannot Taze "patients" But when those patients have IV pulls using them as metal bats! What are the Officers to do? Officers are faced DAILY with making that very decision. They are often called to the Crisis Triage Unit (intake Psych) and confronted with people who are intoxicated, mentally ill, on who knows what kind of drug and very much of the time extremely violent.

Officers stationed at the entrance after a certain time to screen people through a metel detector, often encountering people with weapons and with what are they going to counter a weapons threat with? there batons. And these are just a FEW of the issues facing Officers at Haborview.

How many times does one have to be assaulted or injured before others realize there is a problem. Harborview is a very unsafe place to work, let alone be a patient at.
I think someone needs finally step up and help the Officers who still work there.

That remains to be seen.
Steven Roukie
Crawford County Sheriff Dept.
Missouri

I too was an Officer at HMC from 2000-2003 when I, and several senior Officers were summarily discharged after false accusations were made against us during a bogus investigation conducted by UCIRO. I was personnally accused of excessive force when I shoved a suspect who had assaulted me in the face. This incident was caught on camera and clearly showed that I used an appropriate level of force. At that time, we were trying to get improved training and tools and, as a result, I and several senior Officers approached the Seattle Times (August 18th,2002) and helped with a story about this very issue. We also filed complaints with L&I at that time regarding the unsafe work environment and L&I found AGAINST HMC and mandated training. ONLY after L&I mandated the training AND the damaging story in the Times did HMC provide us with training conducted by a company called the Taylor Group. This training was Law Enforcement training. We also had a thirteen week Field Training & Evaluation program based on the same model of Field Training provided by law enforcement and was supervised by myself, a CJTC Certified FTO. Since we were discharged (a Deputy Chief, two Watch Commander, one Corporal and the senior FTO) these programs have gone to waste and Administration has seen to it that the dapartment had no power in that facility whatsoever.
I cannot begin to describe my anger and disgust with a system that is so concerned with how it looks to the public, that they would actually risk the safety of the very people who are there to insure that the place is really what they claim it is, to the extent that there have been three Chiefs railroaded out of there not to mention the Command staff.
I had a lot of pride in my job when I began to work there and discovered how naive I was when it comes to politics when I became a target of retaliation from Administration when they found out I had participated in the Times article. In addition to all the above, we discovered that while we were there, HMC refused to participate in the Cleary Act which requires all four year Universities to report their crime statistics. This applied to HMC because HMC is a teaching hospital that is managed by the University of Washington. HMC Administration lied repeatedly about their status and refused to report the crime stats even though the website clearly states that HMC is a teaching hospital.
There is so much to add and I am glad to see that this issue has come to the surface once again and I hope that change at the top HMC Administration will take place to insure that the safety of the staff, visitors and patients will be properly addressed.

I am now currently an Officer at Harborview Medical Center, and I feel it is about time that this information is put out to the public. I have worked with Officers Roukie and Coonradt. Both were great at what they did. And I would trust them to make the best judgement in ANY situation.
I speak to various people from various walks of life about my experiences at HMC. i.e. the situations that present themselves there. Everyone I talk to cannot believe the incidents we face on a daily basis. I know police officers....these are commissioned POLICE OFFICERS that say they would REFUSE to do our job with the tools and training we have. Most of the Police Officers I speak with say that they feel safer on the streets than they do at HMC. Now that statement is coming from persons who are committed to keeping the streets safe, who went through state certified police academies and are trained for their jobs!! I've heard police officers admit that when they cannot control a suspect in a crime or do not feel safe, they 'drop them off' at HMC to let us deal with them. We have no proper way of dealing with criminals, out of control drug addicts, drunks, King County Jail inmates, and persons with psychological issues who cannot control themselves. And when a police offer (or officers) 'drop off' someone who needs to be taken to jail, the Emergency Departments heads get mad when we, the officers, want to give a call to the police to come pick up this suspect who just committed a crime. The Emergency Department heads want to keep his or her (the patient's) information private. Is someone leaving the hospital private information? And this CRIMINAL can walk out of the ER, and possibly go and commit another crime against someone. Case in point... the coach from West Seattle that was killed.... he was killed by someone who was released from Harborview Psych!!! But that's a whole other issue.

Point being, Harborview is not a safe place. I witnessed an RN3 from the ER tell medical students (who come to Harborview because it is a teaching facility. Remember the Clery Act in the post above?) I witnessed this RN3 tell these students to "get a ride with public safety because nowhere around here is safe. They will take you to your car even if its around the corner." If it was such a safe place, why would this nurse say this to students?

Why do we do it you ask? My reason and probably a lot of officers reason is that we love the place. I do. I love what Harborview stands for. I love its quality of service to persons who need medical care. I love the diversity of the hospital. Its a fine establishment. But in order for the mission of Harborview to continue, it has to be kept safe from people who disrupt the activity. Who keeps Harborview safe? The Officers. No clinic or ICU floor will call the Medical Director's office to ask Dr. Barnhart or Dr. Copass to go in a bathroom and make contact with someone who has passed out with a needle still sticking out their arm. Nor will either one of those doctors go into a room where a patient has a weapon. Any doctor will not even go up to someone who is sleeping in the cafeteria to ask him to wake up. But I garauntee they will call us. That's to say nothing against the doctors at HMC. I respect and admire Drs. Barnhart and Copass. They have a job to do. And they do their job above and beyond what is called for. All the doctors at HMC. They are trained for their job. All we ask is that we get the training we need to do ours. No one will ask us to go in the OR and stitch someone up. And I don't expect doctors to do our job. Just train us to do the job to keep Harborview staff (including ourselves), patients, and visitors safe.

I am the wife of a current HMC Public Safety Officer and refer to the comment made by "Formerly #47" and the UCIRO (University Complaints Investigation Resolution Office)My husband was one of the officers interviewed regarding the investigation conducted by UCIRO. The training that my husband received was infact provided by the Taylor Group (not recognize as State Certified Law Enforcement training) to the tune of one million dollars +, as stated by "Formerly #47". What it does not mention is that HMC had the option to obtain the same training that would have been recognized by Washington State L&I and the State of Washington as adequte training for "free of cost" from (CJTC)Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center and would have saved the tax payers more than the one million dollar spent that HMC pats themselves on the back for. This training was only offered because L&I forced HMC to provide it after finding that the officers were not properly trained.The end result of the complaint was the training from The Taylor Group and loss of 5 jobs ranging from the Cheif on down to the training officers. HMC would like everyone to think they did the right thing by providing the "training", but the officers clearly forced their hand when multiple complaints were file with both the Administation and L&I. Officer Miller has come forward at his own expence because it is almost guarenteed he will not return to work because he voiced his opinion. As the wife of someone who goes to work everyday and risks his life I hope that this blog is visited by more people who are not afraid to come forward and that someone does not have to lose their life over HMC's failure to listen.

You needn't look any further than Johnese Spisso to discover what is wrong with Harborview. Johnese has been the decision maker for the security/public safety department for the past 7 years or so. She has been involved in every conversation with Labor and Industries, Seattle Police, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Executive Consultants, Washington State Attorney General's Office, and the list goes on and on. She is fully aware of everything that goes on in that facility and yet continues to put EVERYONE's life in danger because of the fear of stigma, or control, I'm not sure which. She has concealed homicides, suicides, sex crimes, identity theft, assaults and just about every other kind of crime that can be committed against a person or property.

Everyone is quick to point the finger at "them" when in reality it is "her" that makes these decisions. All under the premise of Harborview being a sanctuary. One of these days, her poor decision making and outright elitist attitude will turn Harborview into a mortuary for the very people we were trying to protect.

It is high time someone held her accountable for her actions or inactions, however you choose to say it. Rest assured, Johnese Spisso is the reason Harborview is and will continue to be one of the nation's leading crime statistics. The records cleary show it!

Bravo to S. Martinez for the clarification on the training provided by the Taylor Group. I probably should have elaborated further regarding this training.
On that note, the initial proposed training was more than the 186 hours we actually received and was pared down by HMC Administration. While most of the classes were informative, they had little bearing on what we as DPS Officers did. For instance, we received training on how to contact an active shooter called R.A.I.D.. This is training that Police and SWAT use to search out and confront an active shooter. Helloooo, we weren't armed. Another interesting yet useless class was how to profile a serial killer. Again, what did this have to do with us as DPS Officers? We weren't profilers and we definitely didn't investigate homicides, the police did that. We needed relevant, quality training and, as S. Martinez pointed out, HMC blew over a million dollars when we could have received the needed training by the CJTC for free.
I would certainly like to hear more from current and former DPS Officers about how dangerous and unsafe that place is. I wouldn't mind hearing from some of the nurses as well. Workplace violence should never have been a way of life for those folks and we as Public Safety should have had the proper tools, authority and trainng to protect everyone, no matter who they were.
I agree with "Another former member of the DPS team" when he identified the main problem as being Johnese Spisso. She was then and is still now a vindictive elitist who will ruin anyone who tries to fix her broken empire. I salute you guys who are still there doing the daily battles while dealing with the apathy and poor management of what should be the best healthcare facility anywhere. I wish you luck and hope that eventually someone will do something to get you the tools you need to be safe.

I have been an officer for several years now. Remember I am nothing more than an unarmed and under trained security guard. I deal with violent and psychotic patients. I deal with felons, drunks, deranged persons high on meth or crack or heroin. I deal with the mentally ill and the traumatized victims and their families. I have been kicked, punched, bitten, scratched, slapped and spit upon. I have never seen a place that retaliates so strongly against people looking to be better employees and looking to do a better job. We want better training, better tools/equipment and the authority to do our job. Harborview is dangerous. Look at our crime log, go to HSOSA.org and look at the work the officers have done to make this a safer place. Morale is terrible here at the hospital, leadership is non-existent and the hospitals response still seems to be that we are complainers. They work harder to try and refute our claims than they do to fix the problems.

As long as the hospital can say they are doing stuff to make it look safe they will claim they are doing all the can. To them it is more important to appear safe than to really be safe. Crime in the hospital is rampant. Do they install lockers in the waiting rooms to secure people's belongings? NO, that admits there is a problem. Do they install signs warning of recordings in the garages to prevent theft? NO, that would be admitting to a problem. Do they hold the patients to a standard of conduct to prevent them from acting out? NO, they let patients curse and threaten the doctors and nurses and then DPS officers are called to deal with that patient. We are 1st responders to anything that happens in the hospital no matter how violent or dangerous. Staff believes we are police in many cases and then wonder why we cannot act to protect them. The hospital should be ashamed of itself.

And when we DO defend ourselves and do WHAT WE WERE TRAINED TO DO, We are Fired. 2 Officers this year. Both Stewards. Now a Third Steward is on admin leave...

I used to be an officer at HMC, now I am a local police officer. These officers face more danger and threats and violence than many police officers. I was fighting someone nearly every day when I was a guard at Harborview-I almost never fight someone now that I am a cop. These officers have very little training and no equipment. They have 2 choices when it comes to defending themselves, their fists or their batons. My bosses would never consider sending me or any other officer to a violent dispute or a domestic situation unarmed but that is exactly what Harborview bosses do to these officers. When i was there years back, we dealt with thefts, sex crimes, assaults, drugs, suicides, car prowls and car thefts, weapons and liquor violations. All this in a hospital. The guards are required to be involved in dealing with patients care and with patient families. They deal with gang members and criminals on a daily basis. The hospital is a joke-lights and cameras don't protect people. And neither does one under utilized state trooper sitting at the back desk.

Is Harborview Medical Center Safe? I am a current 4+ year veteran officer of the department. As an officer I have responded to disturbances, violent threatening individuals, sexual assaults, vandalism, thefts/burglaries, vehicle prowls, barricaded individuals, assaults, etc. Crime is commonplace and this is inside a hospital. Currently over the last few years over 100 assaults occur yearly. The current Clery stats documented by Harborview are atrocious. What has management done to combat this crime? The following are duties no longer performed by Harborview Public Safety as instructed my HMC Management.

1) Officers cannot detain/stop anyone who has committed a crime (theft, assault, threats, dis con, etc.)
2) Officers do not confiscate any illegal weapons entering the facility (despite having metal detectors)
3) Officers do not confiscate any illegal drugs/contraband entering the facility
4) Officers cannot forcibly remove any disruptive, violent, threatening individuals from the facility.
5) Officers can only use force in self defense (despite this policy 2 officers, union shop stewards have been terminated for using force in self defense)
And finally
6) Officers should back out of any situation they feel is dangerous.

Also prior to 2006, between 200-300 Trespass admonishments were issued to individuals committing crime inside the facility, many in conjunction with arrests. Less than 30 have been issued for 2007, and officers have been told to no longer issue them. Currently, most individuals committing crime in the facility are just escorted out of the building or walked over to a public bustop and left there.

Prior to 2006 all of the above duties were performed by Pubic Safety on a daily basis. However, due to the overwhelming number of assaults and injuries received by officers (100% average yearly) plus the lack of clear policies and authority to perform the above duties, officers asked HMC administration for more training, better tools & equipment and clearly defined polices and authority. Management's response was to disparage vocal officers, threaten our jobs and say "security work is dangerous". When this failed, they said to no longer perform the above duties (This is all documented in our department polices as well as facilitated Union-Management meeting notes). Our then Chief, Emmett Stormo, even made the documented ridiculous statement "..even if a staff or visitor is being assaulted, officers should only go hands-on if it's safe to do so.."

Management will say they hired an off duty state trooper to perform the above duties. However, in reality their guidelines from their company state they are performing off duty security work, not to confiscate drugs or contraband, let Public Safety handle the calls and to only arrest as a last resort. Management also says their independent consultant in May 2007 stated Harborview is a safe place. This consultant was paid by HMC, contradicted both previous consultants reviews, issued a five page report on Public safety problems, stated officers are confused on their expectations, the SOP is not clear, there is a communication problem in the department and the hospital should hire a second police officer (Yet he states HMC is a safe place). Management is also proud of all the taxpayer money they spend on inadequate training that was forced on them by Labor and Industries. Finally, all the new surveillance cameras and lighting has not reduced violent crime.

Finally, after almost two years of off duty state troopers working at Harborview the crime rate is virtually identical as previous years. Injuries and assaults to Security Officers have not been reduced and the cost to Taxpayers for HMC managements failed policy changes, consultants, facilitators, state troopers has been well over 1 million dollars, not including the 800,000 they spent on previous mandated L&I training

I was an RN in the ED at Harborview for many years. I could never have worked there safely without these Public Safety Officers. Although it is still a dangerous place to work,the security officers at Harborvier have my deepest gratitude for trying to keep it safe. It is important that they have better training,back-ups, and whatever it takes to stop a violent person from harming staff and patients.

First, I would like to thank Chris Ingalls for allowing HMC current and former staff a conduit for their voice to be heard.
Those who are new, please visit www.HSOSA.org it will explain a lot of the questions you have about our Hospital and who is running it.
It would be easy to start naming names like (former C.E.O. David Jaffe, former C.O.O. Jonese Spisso, Administrator Robert Hamilton, Former Public Safety Chief Anthony Potter, former Public Safety Director Warren Walls, former Public Safety Director Emmett Stormo and to tell how each one effected the safety or at least the perception of safety of the visitors, staff and patients at HMC. I am not going to do that. Instead I want to set the ground work so to speak so we can all be on the same page.
HMC has a duty to serve the public. And the Public Safety Department has a “sworn duty” to the institution to keep it safe. Until recently Officers were told they were to detain/arrest/tackle/subdue (whatever moniker you want to substitute here) to stop someone from hurting another at HMC to include those in transit to or from HMC within a designated patrol area. (Patrol area: North from Howell Street to King Street and East West 17th Ave to 1st Ave)
As of last year HMC issued directives in a Labor/Management meeting between Public Safety Officers, staff, the Union and Administration to all officers directing them to no longer arrest/tackle /subdue/detain/intervene on behalf of anyone off or on HMC property, but “hoped officers would intervene if a staff member was being attacked and only if they thought it was safe to do so”. (insert your best judgment here) This was not communicated to the staff at HMC nor will it be by this administration. On several occasions Public Safety officers told staff that they could no longer protect them from dangerous people and each time the officer was either threatened by Administration or removed from working in a certain part of the hospital.
Enter the State Patrol. One Trooper 24 hours a day is almost half a million dollar investment by HMC per year to replace those duties Public Safety officers once did. The one catch is that they do not replace the duties and they are not really cops either. Yes they have gone through the training and yes they are “Law enforcement Officers” what I mean to say is that they have been given guidelines by HMC not to act as police while on HMC property unless directed by Administration or in lieu there of a Public Safety Sergeant.

F.Y.I HMC is getting another half a million dollar Trooper soon.

I wish I were shocked by this story, but the true is these men and women are poorly trained and at a huge risk of being injured or killed. I have run on several calls, one of which was someone who killed themselves in the bathroom. Public Saftey tried to create a crime scene by taping the area off, but the admin staff and nurse in charge in the ER would not let them. What are they so afraid of? Hopfully by continuing to push the Administrative staff by filing complaints, there will be changes made before someone get killed. The officers are already getting hurt. Good Luck to the HMC Public Safety officers.

Someone should take a look at the track record for Directors in Public Safety. For the most part they are only kept for around 2 years and then quickly up and leave.They fire their Chief when they get to know to much or they starting bucking Spisos impire. The last one Chief Stormo is now at UWMC. HMC's admin staff Johnese Spiso and Robert Hamilton are to blame, for spending so much of the tax payars money and creating a violent place to work.

I can not speak first hand for what these officers go through every day because I am not a security officer, but I can speak for my own fears. I think the first issue to be addressed is that Harborview is not a safe place, we all know it, come to terms with it,and take the appropriate steps to protect everyone that dedicates there time to it!! We need to stop trying to put off the fake image that we are a nice, clean, safe hospital. This is not Overlake or Evergreen, this is HARBORVIEW!!! We deal with the sickest and most unstable people seattle has to offer. In my position I have had chairs and computer monitors thrown at my head, I have been spit on, cursed at, and had other bodily fluids thrown at me, not exactly what anyone wants to deal with when they come to work.

Second of all, they have spent all this money to do a renovation and left out consideration of everyones safety in doing so. The main wall in the waiting room as well as half of the walls in the registration boths are GLASS!! At the moment they have free standing metal based chairs in the waiting room. You don't have to be a brain surgen to see why this is a problem. My co-workers and I have a bet out to see how long it will take for a psych(or any other for that matter)patient to throw one of those chairs through the glass. Also all of the desks at front registration and triage FLIP UP!!! Again, I am sure you can see the problem here. And finally, wit this new construction there is no security stationed at front registration. BAD,BAD,BAD!! The new area is beautiful and clean and much needed but since when did beauty become more important than safety.

My heart goes out to these officers. They put up with more crap than most anyone else would. They are a great group of people who are dedicated and love there jobs. These officers are the only reason I stayed at Harborview because I was, and still am scared every day I go to work. Yes we have the best doctors, and yes we have a great mission and great services but we are NOT safe. Stop trying to look like something we are not. Tacoma general has bullet proff glass at there registration booths for goodness sakes. It is not safe there and they know it, and have delt with it!! Just because we get all of the athletes and movie stars dosen't mean we are safe. Open your eyes people, stop pretending to be something your not, and take the appropriate steps to keep everyone (patients included) safe.

My heart goes out to the officer currently on admin leave. He is a great officer and I commend him for steping out and doing the right thing. Keep in mind though that the only reason he did this is because everyone knows he has nothing to loose. Harborview does not bring back staff they put on admin leave. This officer will be out of a job, out of a job for doing the right thing and protecting himself!! Please continue to show your support and help show Harborview's true colors.

This is what Jonese had to say about King 5 and its reporting the facts.

"Aug. 28, 2007 - You may have seen the news story that aired last night
and this morning on KING-TV regarding our public safety program. It's
disappointing that the whole story was not presented. I want to share
with you the facts we provided to KING-TV:

At Harborview Medical Center the safety of our patients and staff is a
top priority. The medical center maintains a safe environment for patients,
staff and the general public. Our public safety officers are provided
with clear policies, training and tools to guide them in performing their duties.

We take safety very seriously and have continued to implement a number of
enhancements to support our officers. Our continuous efforts and safety record have been acknowledged and validated by external reviews.

Highlights include:

a.. Completing regular security reviews by expert national consultants
to evaluate the security plan and proactively implement improvements when
needed. The most recent audit led by an independent consultant occurred in May 2007 and found Harborview to be a safe place.
b.. Labor and Industries performed a safety audit in 2007 resulting in no
deficiencies.
c.. Continued enhancements to our public safety work force, including assigning an off-duty Washington State Patrol officer to Harborview to provide immediate on-site response and additional assistance to our public safety officers if needed.
d.. Providing the availability of 24/7 escort service for staff and visitors to use.
e.. Providing extensive and ongoing training for public safety officers
and staff on de-escalation techniques to be used with patients and visitors.
f.. Enhancing the environment by installing additional security cameras
and lighting.

Washington State Patrol is on-site and the Seattle Police Department is
available at anytime for additional backup. Staff members are also instructed to immediately contact the police if at anytime if they feel
that a situation is not safe."

What do you think about this?

This was cut from the Seattle Times article dated August 18th, 2002. Does it sound familiar???

Harborview staff safety jeopardized by policy?

By Susan Kelleher

Seattle Times staff reporter

A fugitive pedophile wanted by the FBI has a doctor's appointment. You know the time and place. What do you do?
If you're an employee at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, you're supposed to make sure the pedophile keeps his appointment, receives medical care and leaves without the police finding out he was there.

Providing felons, fugitives, drug addicts and homeless people with care is part of Harborview's mission. Hospital officials see it as a sanctuary and strive to ensure that prospective patients aren't scared away or offended by too much security.

But the dark side of sanctuary regularly reveals itself in the hospital's emergency room, where staffers are assaulted; in its bathrooms, where heroin addicts shoot up in the stalls; in its security logs, where assaults, thefts, rapes, robberies and drug violations are recorded.

Last month, a man with a .357 magnum and 100 rounds of ammunition walked into Harborview and killed himself in a remote first-floor bathroom. Administrators said they would review security procedures in light of the shooting, but a question looms:

Is Harborview too safe for criminals, and not safe enough for staff and patients?

"They call it a sanctuary, and yet their own employees are afraid to come there," said Field Training Officer Gary Talcott, one of 51 public-safety officers who provide security at the hospital.

Higher risk of crime

A review of police, public-safety and workplace-violence records, as well as interviews with staff and independent experts, indicates there's a price to the administration's approach.

An analysis ordered by the hospital's former public-safety director last year showed that the risk of being robbed at Harborview and its surrounding clinics and offices was 10 times higher than in the rest of King County. The risk of being assaulted was five times higher.

Across the board, Harborview had higher levels of risk for every major crime than the national, state and local averages for those crimes.

"That is an extremely, extraordinarily high index, and it requires fairly stringent security measures," said Russell Colling, one of the nation's top hospital-security experts and the author of safety guidelines for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation's main hospital-accrediting body.

But Harborview administrators are moving in the opposite direction. Where other urban trauma centers have instituted around-the-clock weapons checks, Harborview has restricted weapon screenings to evening hours and no longer stations an armed off-duty police officer in the emergency room.

Other urban trauma centers are manned with police officers armed with guns, tasers or pepper foam, while Harborview administrators are planning to change the blue uniforms worn by their unarmed public-safety officers because they don't want people to think police are working at the hospital.

Other hospitals — including the University of Washington Medical Center — allow security officers to question people who appear to be at the hospital with no official business. At Harborview, anyone is welcome to hang out as long as he or she is not committing a crime or actively bothering others.

Though Harborview staff members widely accept the hospital's mission to serve people on society's margins, they disagree sharply on the sanctuary issue.

Nicknames result

Owned by King County and managed by the University of Washington, Harborview is one of the few places in the Puget Sound area that provide nonemergency medical care without first asking people whether they can pay for it.

The hospital is also the only Level 1 trauma center in a four-state region, handling tens of thousands of emergency visits a year, many of them life-threatening.

The chaotic environment that results from the mix and volume of patients has given rise to the nickname "Harbor-zoo." Those who disagree with the hospital's laissez-faire stance toward criminals use a different one: "Harbor-you."

Chief Operating Officer Johnese Spisso insists the hospital is taking the proper approach to crime. She noted that the safety program passed muster with the accrediting body during the last survey in 1999, and that the hospital is proceeding with better training for safety officers following a fine and citation by the state Department of Labor and Industries earlier this year.

Then there is the philosophical issue: Patients shouldn't be subjected to a higher level of security just because many of them are drug users, criminals or mentally ill, Spisso said.

Besides, she insists, "We're no more vulnerable than Safeway or Pioneer Square or McDonald's."

Seattle Police Capt. Mark Evenson, commander of the East Precinct, where the hospital is located, disputes that assessment. Harborview is not only more volatile than a typical business, he said, but more dangerous than Swedish Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center, which are only blocks away.

Records show that Seattle police were called to Harborview nearly a thousand times last year for a variety of incidents ranging from assault to robbery to rape. About a third of those calls were related to gun- and knife-attack victims who might bring an angry entourage with them. Most of the other calls were for incidents in or around the hospital facilities.

Harborview's public-safety officers — who patrol the hospital and its grounds, apprehend and arrest violators, restrain violent patients and screen nightly visitors for weapons — want better training, protection and arrest powers. Some would like to be armed.

But Harborview officials plan to move the officers away from police functions to focus solely on security. And the hospital is strongly opposed to arming them with anything more than a collapsible metal baton.

Different comfort levels

John Frazier, a medical-records clerk who influences policy as a local union president and head of Harborview's minority-affairs task force, opposes giving the safety officers additional authority. He worries about racial profiling and abuse of power, which he says he has witnessed.

He also said most people who come to the hospital aren't afraid.

"This is a public facility. If someone's just sitting here, that should be OK as long as they're not bothering anyone," Frazier said.

Colling, the security expert, said such thinking obscures the reason the hospital exists: to provide health care.

"If they decide they want to run a safe haven or refuge, that's their prerogative," he said. "But it's out of context with health care in the United States."

While Harborview officials express little concern about the level of crime, some staffers and patients are clearly uncomfortable with the environment in and around the hospital. Last year, safety officers performed more than 5,900 escort trips, accompanying staffers or patients to and from Harborview and its outlying clinics and administration buildings.

"Of all the people I've provided escorts for, I'd say well over 50 percent have stated to me that their reason for using the escort is because they do not feel safe walking to their car or walking in the neighborhood," said former Sgt. Chuck Cerda, who resigned last month.

Inside the hospital — especially in the psychiatric ward and emergency room — visitors and patients have become violent toward staff. Emergency-room nurse Charles Wiley remembers the chill that ran through him after treating a suicidal man who had his stomach pumped.

"He said, 'Charles, I'm going to track you down. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill your family. You will regret this day that I was in the emergency room.' It's been 18 months, and thank God nothing's happened."

Employees who spoke to The Seattle Times did so as individuals, and not as spokespeople for the hospital.

Harborview's policy calls for all visitors and patients to be treated equally, even if they're just there for a cheap meal or to use the bathroom or phone.

But sometimes, visitors commit crimes of opportunity against vulnerable patients and their families. And sometimes, the patients themselves commit the crimes.

Last month, a patient threatened to stab a man with a syringe because the man refused his request for a cigarette on the sidewalk outside the emergency room.

Five days later, a woman whose husband was brought to the hospital for treatment reported that her purse containing $2,000 in cash and a $5,000 diamond pendant was taken from the cafeteria.

Calls for more security

Critics — including but not limited to safety officers — say Harborview needs more security to ensure that access to high-level trauma care is not shut down by a single incident.

They cite a near-riot that occurred last summer: Dozens of angry people swarmed into the emergency room following a shooting. At least two people in the crowd were carrying guns, and one man waiting in the ER pulled a gun when the crowd swarmed in.

Acting Sgt. Dan Sirotzki, a public-safety officer who was injured in the fray, said that incident underscored the hospital's vulnerability.

The critics' other concerns include:

• Construction of a new 437-car parking garage at the hospital that contains just one security camera. (Spisso, the hospital's chief operating officer, said new cameras will be installed.)

• Policies that delay or even prevent reporting incidents to police until they are reviewed by a hospital department charged with evaluating the potential for lawsuits.

• Inadequate training, equipment and authority for safety officers.

At times, critics say, administrators have been more concerned about the appearance of security than actual security.

For example, Spisso has repeatedly warned safety officers to stop patrolling areas adjacent to hospital property. But in November, after a nurse was abducted while walking to her car and subsequently raped, the hospital told employees that public safety had stepped up uniformed and undercover patrols in the neighborhood. In fact, it had not, according to former Sgt. Cerda and others with first-hand knowledge of the situation.

Some crimes aren't reported

When crimes do occur, they are not always reported to the police or even to the hospital's public-safety department, or are reported belatedly. For example:

• No one at the hospital called police or Harborview security in November 2000 when a woman claimed she was raped by an employee while recovering from an auto accident.

Although the hospital runs a center specializing in the evaluation and treatment of sexual assault, the woman was not sent for an evaluation until more than 34 hours after the incident was reported. By that time, according to her attorney, Brian Boddy, the woman had been bathed, likely destroying evidence of a crime.

The incident was reported to police by the woman's father.

"All I was getting from them was that they were trying to protect themselves and not the patients," said Boddy, who filed a malpractice suit on her behalf. The hospital has denied the suit's allegations.

• Earlier this year, medical staff did not notify police or public safety after discovering that a male psychiatric patient had possibly assaulted a 21-year-old female psychiatric patient. Safety officers learned of the incident only when a sexual-assault examiner approached them.

When the same patient was sexually assaulted by a different male patient six days later, reports indicate, the supervisor for the unit told staff not to cooperate with the investigation into the incident.

• Last November, safety officers say, Spisso chastised them for calling police after a patient was found unconscious in bed with a syringe sticking out of his intravenous line. Spisso said the call to police was premature because Harborview's risk-management department — charged with evaluating legal exposure — had not had an opportunity to review the case first.

The incident was found to be a suicide.

• Also last year, a patient infected with HIV bit a nurse and threatened to bite another.

"In that instance, the person should have been taken to jail," said Mary Jane Clark, a neurology nurse threatened by the man. "Instead, he was there for another three days."

Spisso said patients have been arrested and prosecuted, but whether that happens depends on the circumstances of the crime. Under hospital policy, the risk-management department reviews all nonemergency situations and decides whether police are called.

Limited weapons checks

The hospital has declared itself a "weapon-free zone," but it's common knowledge among staff that patients carry guns and knives into the hospital regularly. Screening for weapons is done only between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on a rickety machine that on a recent evening had to be kicked and smacked before it worked properly.

Last year, the nightly weapons checks picked up more than 2,100 objects that could be used as weapons, including 32 guns, 1,591 knives and other sharp-edged tools, 197 pepper-spray canisters and 318 other "makeshift" objects.

No one knows how many weapons get into the hospital during the day.

"We feel it's very important that patients should be screened 24 hours a day," said ER nurse Wiley. "There's ways to do it that don't interfere with patient care."

Dr. Nancy Sugg, medical director of Harborview's Pioneer Square clinic, is among those who support Spisso's sanctuary approach to security. But even she doesn't understand why the hospital does only partial screening at the ER.

"It's a much tougher environment," she said.

(Associate Administrator Robert Hamilton, who oversees public safety, said in an interview Friday that he wants 24-hour checks and will discuss the idea with the hospital's new public-safety director, who arrives next month.)

Sugg said there are good reasons for a lower-key approach to security, one that focuses on de-escalating situations before they get out of hand.

Taking away people's needles, running warrant checks on people engaged in "suspicious" activity or hassling people who are hanging out with no official business at the hospital might scare away patients who need help, she said.

She's seen it happen, citing a case where a heroin addict failed to show up for care for a suspected case of so-called flesh-eating bacteria because she didn't want her drugs confiscated.

Sugg also said there is widespread suspicion of police among the homeless population, many of whom have had negative encounters with police.

"I take safety very seriously, but I also take our mission statement very seriously," she said. "We see patients in a whole different setting.

"We see people in the clinic who have committed murder. One of them I'm thinking about is the nicest person in the world. It was a substance issue. He's a sweet guy, and it's hard to imagine now he did it."

Colling, the security expert, questioned the rationale behind security planning at Harborview.

"I've never known anyone to be scared away by security," he said. "That's a pretty tough one, to say, 'We can't have a safe facility because we don't want to scare people away.' "

Even Sugg says: "It's clear Harborview can't be — at least in my mind — a total safe haven, because otherwise it would endanger the community and people at the hospital."

Susan Kelleher: 206-464-2508 or skelleher@seattletimes.com.

And here it is, five years later and nothing has improved

Really? Call the police for back up? Have a Trooper respond to the 9th or 10th floor when you have someone who wants to hurt you? Add more security cameras and lights..... Really?

Officers patrol Harborview primarily by themselves, alone ! checking stairwells, basement areas, parking garages, outer park areas and all this with a baton and a radio!

So how long does it take for someone who is very serious about hurting you, to hurt or kill you? Answer that.....SECONDS! not minutes that it would take for the Police or a Trooper to respond to what ever location you might be in and if you have a chance to put that over the air on very poor portiable radios that do not get reception in all areas of the hospital.

This is a bunch of CRAP! Don't listen to their political lies and that is just what they are. You have Officers and Police Officers telling you what is really going on here!

Really take a minute and really read what is being said here. Sure you can provide an Officer with 200 hours of training, but you cannot expect an Officer to perform there duties at HMM with just a baton.

It's like bringing a knife to a gun fight. No these Officers need better Law Enforcement tools and more clearly defined authority. You have Private Security Officers with more tools and more authority to protect themselves and others than the Officers at HMC.

SO don't listen to the Adminstrations CRAP, Administration expect Harborview Security Officers to perform a Law Enforcement function with Security Guard tools and authority. To me that is a distaster waiting to happen, it is just a matter of time before a psych patient or a patient that is hopped up on drugs to turn Harborview into a Columbine. Only by the grace of God has this not yet happened.

I will give you another story here, One day while I was working at HMC, Officers are dispatched to the 2nd floor ICU waiting area. Officers are told that there is a person with a FIREARM on thier side.(this is against hospital policy) Officers make very clear statements that this is a Seattle Police call. Officers are told by a certain "Luitenant" that it is thier job to check this out and that Seattle Police will not be called until Officers have checked more into the situation.

Luckily there is a very active King County Sheriff's Deputy that is in the Security Office that overhears this and decides to assist Officers with this task of "checking out" the person with a weapon.

Later on this same Sheriff's Deputy is advised not to walk around with DPS Officers and is later placed at another location when he Tazed an out of control Psych patient, that assaulted a Harborview Officer.

So yeah there is a LOT more of this kind of stuff happening that needs to be heard.

I worked for a large ambulance company for several years,and can not count the number of times I have been to HMC, and witnessed a PSO dealing with a violent person. These people are asked to do the job of a Ploice Officer with out the traing, or the equipement. Any one working at HMC should demand that the PSO's get the traing, and epuipement that they need, all the unions in the hospital should get behind this so thier members can get the protection they deserve.

Can we take all these posts as gospel? Many posts seem to be written by one person. Note the writing / speaking style and consistent spelling errors. You cannot believe everything you read.

Security guards with guns? Scary. That'd be like giving crack to a crack addict and telling them not to smoke it.

Yes, some may have been written more than once by the same person. However, I know of some of these incidents because I've either been involved in them or know of them.

So, you may join the ranks of the blind but the truth is still there if you care to learn about it. As a fellow officer, I know management has always said one thing in writing but act out differently when given a verbal decision. It puts us officers at risk either way because if you fail to do what they say, they'll put you on Admin. Leave and fire you.

In the other side of the coin, you do what they tell you (Even going against written policy) and then somebody makes a complaint against you. The next thing you know, you are again placed on Admin Leave because the management will cover their tracks and say, "We didn't tell him to do this. It goes against written policy." So where does this leave the officer? Either way we are screwed.

In conclusion, if you aren't buddy-buddy with management, you can kiss your A** goodbye.

Nice try Lieutenants Redd, Bonilla, and Lewis. Dont decribe yourselves as anounymous when everyone who works with you has heard the very statement of "security with guns" stated by all of you!
You can try to lie to the public, but those of us who know who you are and who is pulling your puppet strings will know you are only out to save yourselves. Redd you know this more than anyone.

I've heard security guards called many things before, but this is the first time I've heard them being equated with crack addicts. You should be thankful that people are willing to place themselves in danger to protect you. To equate them with crack addicts is pretty insulting to all those who labor in this honorable profession, usually for very low pay.

To the "Anonymous" person mentioning Security having guns are like crack addicts... you must not have been to Harborview before. Then again, if so, you must be blind to your surroundings.

To everyone who is willing to learn more, go to HSOSA.org to see some of the crime stats. It may wake you up.

Keep in mind, I've heard management has been trying to find out whose posting this info on the website. If they are so "innocent", why are they targeting those who want to improve the department?

Come on folks, lets no air our dirty laundry in a blog that is addressing a very important issue. Clearly the ability of the Administation of HMC is in question and has been for along time, look at past stories. This is proven with the frequent changing of the Cheifs (which they do not have a current Cheif), the frequent staff that is put on leave for having a voice. Whether you think security should or should not be law enforcement is not the question..... its do you feel safe at work, do you feel safe as a patient and what kind of care are we giving to people who are seriously ill? Everyone knows that at the top of most institutions there is someone making policy that has no knowledge of the job duties and this is Johnese Spiso and Robert Hamilton. The 3 Lieutenants are just the fall guys hoping if they play along they will be secured in their jobs, but isnt that what we all want? Bottom line is HMC should be embarrased by the fact that they are always in the news about the safety of everyone. Clearly the employee is not being heard.

Trust me.... those guys at HMC do one hell of a job. I'm a King County Sheriff and I wouldn't dare place myself at HMC like these men and women do. To the HMC Admin and the HMC Security Admin, listen to these men and women. They are the ones doing the job. And until you put on that uniform RIGHT NOW, you need those officers to tell you what they need. Good Luck HMC Security!

My son was flown to Harborview from Idaho last year. We spent the better part of a month at Harborview, going back and forth from the Inn at Virginia Mason. These officers were courteous, polite, caring, and brave. Qualities not found in most police officers. There was one night I decided to walk to the hotel and saw first hand the job that these officers do. They stood up to a man who was clearly on some sort of controlled substance. The man posed a serious threat and the officers handled it with precision and kindness. My heart goes out to you officers who just want to go home safe at night, just like they want the people they protect to do the same. Good Luck!

As an EMT transporting patients to HMC on a regular basis over the last 10 years,I have seen on numerous occasions patients who are assaultive towards hospital and ambulance staff and I have personally been concerned for my safety and the safety of those around these violent individuals. These types of occurences have become much more common at HMC and I believe that HMC needs allow their DPS officers to at least carry tasers to better stop violent people who do not react to any other attempts at being subdued.Unfortunately these days it has become necessary for any DPS to carry more advanced forms of self defense in order to protect themselves and those they protect.Wake up HMC! before a staff member or DPS officer or any other innocent person gets killed!

King 5 you are doing some serious journalism. Does your staff members have some personal interst. Yes. Have you revealed this. No. If the story is worth telling, why don't you put your hard earned "communication" degrees to work instead of placing peoples jobs and potentially lives at risk.

It is unprofessional of you to manage a complex story in this manner. Have you called L&I, anyone to obtain a counter point position, or are you relying on gorilla journalism tactics.

This is a very challenging and complex issue and now that you have stirred the hornest nest the onus is upon you to truly investigate versus creating "news" through a "blog". What's next, a myspace page? If the story has merit, run it - but do your job. Harborview, as you say, is an institution and it is unprofessional of you to manage a story in a way that limits knowledge. As with any issue there are points on both sides, creating a forum for un-happy employees (and ex-employees) to rant is behaving like People magazine; and I would hope that you are better and more professional than that.

Harborview does wonderful things every day, and to create a forum to negate the care, treatment, and life saving measures great people take and do every day is shameful. Yes there are challenges and yes there are choices... perhaps everyone could make better choices, including you - don't create news, report news.

Armoured Car Drivers = Security Guards with Guns.

Private Security Services = Security Guards with Guns.

Various Security Guards at our Federal installations = Security Guards with Guns.

What are the police really? well SCREENED, well TRAINED, well PREPARED....Security guards with Guns, and AUTHORITY of course but there we are.

My point. Gun or no gun PEOPLE are still people. Comparing a Security Guard to a Crack user is just silly. What that statement is saying is that Security Guards are unintelligent, overreactive, and foolish and if given a gun will play Wyatt Earp and just start shooting. Yippekiay, lets shoot us some homeless folks!

Lets get serious for a second. A man wielding a Knife is lethal aithen several feet. This is a fact. A man with a bat or stick can kill you just as easy. A man with a gun and nothing to lose? Well then we have Virginia tech, Columbine, Jewish Federation... The list goes on.

How long until a desperate drug seeker, High on something, pissed that he can't get his drugs at harborview, angry at the nurses, REALLY angry at the highly visible blue uniforms that walked him out of the building, returns with a rifle and several pistols.

Who will he shoot first? Anyone wearing that evil blue uniform, and anyone wearing scrubs. They are fixed in his mind as the enemy.

This will eventually happen. What happens when it does? Several DEAD nurses/doctors innocent other people, several dead HMC Officers who can not defend them selves. Regret recriminations, and finally, hopefully, change. Too little will be done too late and familys will grieve.

I am a former officer there. I have formed a bond with these people that EVERY day put their lives on the line for Staff, for total strangers, and even for the abusive mentally ill or homeless guy that spits on them, throws urine at them, or punches them in the face.

I have seen "Guards," again the knuckle dragging THUGS reffered to earlier, go above and beyond taking hits, BLEEDING, putting themselves in harms way with NO THANKS AT ALL!

I was involved, for example, in a case where a King County Deputy had raped and beaten his wife. Administration would NOT tell me what was going on, they told me that Public Safety was NOT to know. Our Sgt. eventually got that information. It turned out that this deputy SHOWED UP IN THE ER WAITING ROOM. Remember this is a VERY well trained, most probably armed and demonstrably unstable individual. But they were refusing to let me know what was even happening. I recognized him from the description, called for back-up.

5 Officers and 2 State Troopers (Luckily it was shift change, in fact I had STOPPED the troopers from leaving to park a car because I recognized him) stood up to this very tall, very potentially dangerous man. He assaulted one of the troopers, she had to check into the ED, and it was up to the troopers and UNARMED public safety "Guards" to subdue this person.

Kudos was given. But not to me or the other DPS staff. The troopers were credited with the entire thing.

Someone could VERY well have been killed in that incident. While the man didn't have his sidearm, he DID have a long knife on him. And he COULD have had his gun.

This is getting long, but my last point. No one is asking for a gun anyhow. But a Tazer. Howmany violent encounters would this solve in a NON Lethal manner? How many injuries prevented? How many potential LIVES saved?

management has said that "Guards" Again neanderthals with zero intelligence apparently, would use the tazers on patients restrained in their beds. Heck they gave us Asp batons. Howmany times have they been used on someone restrained in a bed? Hmmm.... ZERO! Officers are even afraid to use the tools they have because if you do...FIRED. Even when being choked and punched.

These officers are NOT knuckledragging thugs. They are dedicated, honest, hard working, and perform unimmaginable feats against unimmaginable threats. Sometimes LITERALLY covered in someone else's feces, all to keep that nasty smelling violent person from hurting themselves or others. Several of these Officers have 4 year degrees, and many of them have been in the job for more than 10 years. A few as much as 20.

These idiots, and based on this I can't think of another word because who but an Idiot would continue in this line of workafter the abuse they get, These IDIOTS keep at it. With no thanks, with endless danger. They don't go hide in a bathroom and read for a whole shift, they don't refuse to respond to calls. These Idiots care. *GASP* They actually CARE about people, the staff, the public, and the Poop covered violent patient.

But no one cares about them. Seriously. I cry for them at times. They are the best society has to offer.

Crack Addicts indeed. hang you're head in shame whoever you are, you are not worthy of the protection they would give you if they even knew who you are.

To the King 5 critic above, I have one question for you. Who in this blog has questioned the integrity of Harborview as an institution providing the preeminient medical care in the country.....? I don't believe anyone has. In fact, I think you will find that every one of these people have or are willing to put their lives on the line to protect the very institution that turns their back to them EVERY SINGLE TIME this comes up. Oh, I have heard it all, trust me. This has been going on far too long and it is high time these people were heard. You call it guerilla journalism, I call it the only way people are going to hear the truth. Harborview will certainly never reveal it!! Go ahead King 5, call L & I, call the State Auditor's Office, call the U.S. Department of Justice, call the Criminal Justice Training Commission, call the Taylor Group, call anyone but HMC Administration, and you might get the truth. It is out there!!!!

As a nurse who works at HMC I am continually shocked to the degree of stupidity displayed by everyone in a position of power, but wait, they don't work during most of the times when one is most likely to get hurt. The ICU is unlocked, prior to the renovation in the ER anyone could come up the stairs and enter the ICUs. I guess a sign that says "do not enter" is better than a lock. Seattle, wake up, get with the program. it is more violent now than it used to be. If you don't act now, someone will die. If it is me, I have left names of people to sue. The slipshod way programs are implemented, without review or concern for both patient and staff safety. Harborview, you are responsible for my safety. if you can't provide for my safety then you will pay, both in criminal and in civil court. your retirement and fancy is not safe.

How about the time the guy hung himself in the ultra safe Psych ward? And ER Management physically assaulted the Officer trying to get the information.

This was pretty well covered up huh?

That Television that had the cord he used to hang himself with sure disappeared very quickly.

I have worked at Harborview for the past twenty years and have always felt protected and safe. You have grand-standed an issue that a very few of our public safety officers are begging for-guns! We are a hospital that takes care of people from all walks of life. We are an institution that has invested alot of money and hours in training for the public safety officers as well as the patient care staff to care for these patients and their sometimes complex behavior.

Unfortunately, a very few of these public safety officers want to become commissioned officers and carry guns----and unfortunately you have chosen to report this as news.

Please remember that we save lives every day, that is the story of Harborview! The story is not that Harborview is an unsafe place!

Nurses at Harborview save lives. Zero dispute. Answer truely, how many officers have been treated for injuries received at Harborview? How many Nurses? how many Visitors?

Harborview saves lives! Harborview has a very important and wonderful mission! Harborview the institution is as noble as it comes! Much of the staff there are the greatest people on the earth!

This is all fact!

Harborview administration however will not show you the dark side. Will in fact become incredibly evasive when asked.

I dont see anyone "begging for-guns!" "wanting to become commissioned officers and carry guns". It seems they want the proper training, equipment, clear authority and direction to perform their duties. And yes, that may mean they go though a police academy, be commissioned as police officers and carry a gun. Dont try and cloud the issues at hand with all this Gun and Commission talk. Do you have the training you need to do your job? Do you have the proper licesing or certification for your profession? Do you have clear direction in what you can and cannot do in your practice? That, and some well deserved respect, is all these people are asking for. Please remember this, your DPS Officers, well they protect lives every day as well.

Officers have NEVER asked for guns, period.

If you don't agree with what's being said, attack the message not the messenger. It so easy for HMC Management to say, "they just want guns!" and not back that up with any proof. What's hard is for them to explain the high crime rate at the hospital and the high injury and assault rate the officers face PROTECTING the staff. So they just ignore those true facts and attack the messenger, with unfounded statements.

If you truely don't like guns then write HMC management and ask them why they hired ARMED off duty State Troopers to work at the hospital. Mind you these are the same people protecting staff/vistors/patients at the hospital as the unarmed security officers.

Lets look at these Off Duty WSP officers.

First, they are all great people and fine Police Officers. Please do not misunderstand.

However, they are working in addition to their normal work schedules. Some are tired, some come from far away, some already have done 4 to 8 hours elsewhere before even comming to work at Harborview.

Next, there is only one of them. In a building that is basically 16 floors from bottom to top, with several buildings on campus, they can't be everywhere at once.

Many of them are working their first shift there or are rarely there. They simply do not know the Geography. In a situation where seconds can make the differance the choice of the wrong group of elevators or stairs can mean life or death. An out of control patient brutally assaulting someone on 4West Clinic, the Trooper goes to 4 west hospital. There is NO way to get back without backtracking. But howmany people get mixed up when NOT in a stressful situation.

And again let me emphasize that these troopers are great, the fact is that they generally do not know the "Regulars" that come in. And their Law enforcement role in their day to day jobs is ENTIRELY different than what happens at Harborview. Troopers be honest, how many fights do you get into in the course of a normal week?

How many troopers have been injured at Harborview? At least 3 that I know of.

Troopers are a great Public relations bandaid. But who knows the facility better than the people that are there day in and day out, dealing with the same stuff over and over. train THOSE guys. Give them the authority to do their jobs, Give them the training then need. At LEAST provide them with some stress management classes!

I'm a long time employee of HMC (over 13 years) - I've always felt safe there. I'd venture to say that the majority of staff would echo my sentiments. Almost every day, I see something at this amazing institution that make me grateful to be a part of it. But, crime happens everywhere. It happens on safe college campuses, it happen in wealthy neighborhoods and in slums.

One part of our mission is to care for the underserved and the mentally ill. We are also a huge trauma center. This is the population for whom we care. It's not a plastic surgery clinic on the Eastside and there should be no expectations that our patients behave as such. These people have to go somewhere for care, here in Seattle, it happens to be HMC. The issues of safety are not black and white - especially when it comes to caring for mentally unstable patients.

Having said that, here are some suggestions, I have heard them repeated often:

Suggestion #1: if this is such an issue for you, the current DPS staff, and you are in such repeated and terrible peril, please go find another job - no one is keeping you here, your employment is voluntary and no one wants to see your demise.

Suggestion #2: outsource public safety and security to a professional firm who is better equipped to deal with this. It is evident that the training and education (no matter how robust) isn't sufficient to provide the curent officers with the skills they need to be successful.

Well, Susan Greeg-Hansen-why does Harborview NEED three times the security of other hospitals. But this is a lie, we are severely understaffed. Some officers are working 50, 60, 70 hours a week. We are probably 6 officers under what we should have. If the officers are so safe why is their injury rate so high? Why is the crime and violence rate in your own Clery Act stats so high? Doesn't look safe to me. The crime stats at HMC are probably much higher than those for the rest of the UW system combined. No, the training is not sufficient and no we don't have enough equipment or training. In light of the numbers how you can possibly say such a thing?

As to suggestion number one above: If you feel safe that is fine, but who gets called when things go bad and a patient or visitor commits a crime or turns violent? It is DPS, not nurses, not doctors not MA's. We get called to deal with the problems no one else wants to deal with or can deal with. If every single employee of your department was assaulted or injured every year would that be a problem? Or would you and your co-workers just accept it. And your suggestion to "please go find another job" is ignorant and illogical. It is the UW's responsibility to provide a safe work environment. "Leave the job if there is something you don't like" is not an answer. All we are asking for is ways to do our job safer period. As to suggestion 2, no way will that happen. They could easily bring in UWPD but the UW won't let that happen. In your attempt to insult officers and the job we do you have a kernal of truth-and that is the training isn't sufficient which is what we've been saying all along.

It's good that some feel safe at HMC.

The reality is this; Public Safety Officers patrol and answer calls for service campus wide, as well as off site facilities throughout the downtown area. The vast majority of HMC employees work in a specific unit or department confined to a single floor, clinic or office. Most of their interation with the public is very limited, if they have any at all.

Unless you have "worked the floor" as a DPS Officer, you have no idea of what they deal with every day. For anyone to suggest they find another job or be outsoursed because of their concerns is just wrong.

The fact that HMC serves such a diverse population is not the issue being raised. But some keep throwing this into the ring. HMC serves the PUBLIC the PEOPLE the TAX PAYERS who have a RIGHT to be safe and free from harm at a public medical center.

If you want your opinion on the officers assesment of safety to have some meat to it, go work a couple shifts with them, walk the floor, get to know who they are and what they do. I'm sure your opinion of this situation will quickly change.

The following will be the start of several entries to serve as a rebuttal to SG Hanson and Johnese Spisso's email of Aug 28. I will break it up into several section so it is easier to read.

King 5 aired a story and the hospital refused to come on air and comment at that time, but did offer some "facts". The safety is a top priority is a nice slogan but the numbers don't bear out this assertion. There is far too much crime and violence at the hospital. Go to the 8th floor security office and ask for 6 months of Clery Act statistics to see how "safe" the hospital is. The number of violent incidents should shock anyone and betray the safe environment claim. According to your own expert you hired and others brought in the policies are NOT clear and the policy manual is filled with contradictions and confusion. If you think policies are clear whay don't you ask some of the officers if they truly know what the policy says and means. The same expert said we need much more training. With the number of injuries I think it is apparent the tools and training are not enough. The vast majority of officers likely are not convinced we have the necessary tools to do the job the hospital expects of us.

I have worked at HMC as a nurse for over 10 years, including the ED. I have worked along side HMC security in several capacities and appreciate what they do. However, it seems to me that the story that we keep hearing is biased…very biased. I have worked in several other level one trauma centers throughout the country. I have never felt unsafe while working at Harborview. I have questioned some responses to certain situations and have never thought that having security carry a weapon would have de-escalated a situation. I think it would have resulted in someone being hurt.
I am concerned that the message that is being sent to the public is the wrong message. I do feel confident that HMC Administration has addressed the security issue several times. Why is there not another side of this story being represented? To say that Administration doesn’t care about security means that L&I must not care either, as they found zero deficiencies in a 2007 audit. What about the unbiased opinion of an outside consultant – what do they have to gain by saying that HMC is safe??? Nothing! There are always two sides of a story and I have only seen one represented. I don’t think that this story represents the entire security department’s views on this topic. I think this is a last ditch effort on the part of an officer that decided not to follow policies that are put into place to protect patients. If security wants to be armed like police officers – then they should go be police officers and when I need one, I feel safe to call 911!!
I don’t believe that staff believes that ‘our own employees are afraid to go to work’ because ‘it is dangerous.’ As a nurse, I can easily choose to leave HMC and work at another hospital. Harborview is a wonderful place to work and I proudly CHOOSE to work there. I think the way that this story was told by the involved individuals was handled poorly and is a disservice.

Rebuttal Part 2:

A. The last "expert review" was done only after repeated complaints from officers of the unsafe working conditions. Officers easily rebuked every claim made in this expert's opinion. Very little of this expert's review contained anything capable of standing up to the the reality of the situation at HMC. This expert couldn't even properly count the number of offciers in the department. The review continued downhill from there. This review was also completely contradictory to two other reviews occurring previously that came to different conclusions as to the safety of HMC or the ability of the officers to do their job. This latest safety consultant had the audacity to claim "there are no rapes or murders at Harborview, so it is a safe place."

Rebuttal Part 3:

B. The L and I investigation did not claim "no deficiencies", it was very limited in its scope, but it is not yet completed. However, something is causing the excessive injuries to officers and HMC hasn't done anything to curtail them yet. Besides, twice in the last few years HMC has been fined by L and I for security department claims so I wouldn't be bragging about a 33% success rate.

C. The WSP Trooper was only added after officers demanded more equipment and more accountability from HMC due to our injuries. This wasn't done out of the goodness of thier heart. This was done after repeated requests by officers to improve our safety. Despite this, the Troopers are very limited in where they go and what they do. In fact, they are told to arrest only as a last resort. While officers are greatly appreciative of the Troopers, we realize they are restricted by the hospitals rules.

D. If it is so safe why is there a need for a 24/7 escort service for staff and visitors? Why are staff members tell vistors not to walk because it isn't safe? I think this just proves what we are saying. The area around the hospital can be dangerous, there isn't an ivisible force field at the entrance keeping the danger out of HMC.

Unbiased opinion from an outside consultant? Hired by whom? I believe the vast majority of urban level one trauma centers have Police Officers working the facility, correct? Do some research.

It would make sense to have a government appointed team investigate the issue of safety & security and role of the Public Safety Dept.

Since HMC is a county facility, I would think the King County Counsel should take the lead on this.

Rebutta Part 4:

E. We receive nowhere near enough training. This has been documented over and over. The only reason we are receiving the limited amount we now do is because of officers voicing their concerns. If we had not finally said, "Enough is enough, we need help.", the hospital would have been content to let things continue as they were.

F. Lighting and security cameras don't make people safe. In areas where officers actually get hurt there are no cameras and moreover no camera or lighting has yet served to reduce the criminal inidents at the hosptal.

Yes, WSP is on the property. One WSP to respond for the entire hospital, that is if it is someplace they are allowed to go. In most cases the Trooper nor Seattle Police would be able to find something in some back corner of HMC without being led by DPS Officers. And no, through many conversations, we have learned taht HMC administration does not wnat the police called. People always call DPS first even for events outside the hospital taht we are not responsible for. Want proof? Look at the emergency placards in the hospital with all the codes on them and look at the card emergency card with your HMC ID. Who does it say call for certain events outside of HMC or at UW? It says call 911. And who does it say call if you are at HMC? It says call the DPS emergency line. Unarmed, undertrained officers who have been told they do not have a duty to act.

Have you actually seen the L&I reports? Have you actually seen the report from the outside consultant? Or is this 2nd hand news? It is clear from these comments that the goal is to 'be armed.' There must be a solution to help security feel safe but I don't think that it is to arm themselves.

I know that a certain DPS officer with issues is posing as an "Just a nurse" or "Ambulance Driver" etc. and posting great exaggerated "facts". I work at Harborview a staff member and I do not perceive HMC as an unsafe environment. In general it is a few disgruntled officers who are frustrated wanna-be cops and who are unable to find employment elsewhere that are complaining.

As a current DPS officer, I would like it to be known that these are not the views of all of us. I have to agree that it is a few disgruntled officers that couldn't get hired as cops. Maybe Swedish is hiring.

My name is Doug Knorr and I have been the Administrative Director for Supply Chain Management for the past 10 years. During that time, I have been duely impressed by the fine work that the Public Safety Officers have done on behalf of our patients, families and staff. For the most part, they are dedicated workers trying to do their best in sometimes difficult situations. As far as the accusations bantered about in this blog, I can only say there are different perspectives on any issue. No-one here has all the facts and as a result any conclusions they draw are incomplete. I have my opinion just like others have theirs and the truth lies within a serious evaluation of all points-of-view.

My question here is to Chris Ingalls of KING 5; is this what passes for investigative journalism these days? To generate a story based on the views of a narrow, albeit passionate, group of people and then, for balance, ask for anonymous entries into an on-line blog doesn’t really seem to me to be at all fair.

In the words of Col. Nathan R. Jessep, “I suggest you pick up a weapon son, and stand a post”. Chris, why not come to Harborview and spend a day or two with the members of Harborview’s public safety staff and actually experience on a personal level what you’re writing about. Talk with the nurses, the administration, the patients and families and our neighborhood characters. Feel it, then write about what you know, not what you’re being told.

I think if you do, you might actually make a contribution to this story.

I worked at HMC for years as a student employee in college and have returned five years later as a full-time staffer and have never felt unsafe in this facility. Blogs are self-selecting and tend to only capture the most extreme opinions, therefore making it unlikely that these comments represent more than a fraction of entire workforce of thousands of employees. I support employees receiving adequate training to do their jobs (but I am not qualified to have an opinion on the training that DPS currently receives), but I do not support arming DPS officers. There seems to be an overwhelming slant in the news stories and many of the blog postings regarding arming of officers. What are you going to do? Shoot or taser patients and visitors? Is that really a viable solution? Arming of officers is what would make me feel unsafe in this facility.

...The disgruntled staff do need to find employment elsewhere. The majority of staff don't want people like you here. You are toxic. You are bad for morale, bad for HMC. You drag our wonderful institution through the mud and the only ones you hurt are the patients who are now afraid to come to this institution. Shame on you.

The last thing that is safe for HMC is a hot head with a gun trying to prove a point. Case in point, the officer on TV! He's been injured 6 times! Let's compare that to the other officers. Is this the routine? That is the data that I want to see. Also, what constitutes an assault? How many batteries have there been? Where is the detail in the data being distributed.

I know that the majority of DPS officers are very professional and ethical folks doing a difficult job. However, what you see here are rantings of the few who have performance issues and are not cut out for the difficult job they have.

You don't have to believe one word of any of these blogs written. But, you have to always believe the truth and we DO !! Nobody once ever said, we want to be ARMED. That is not possible and all DPS knows it because we work in psych units. We need another option for safety of DPS, staff, patients, and visitors in addition to batons.

*We need clearly defined authority
*We need pepper gel, tasers (preferred)
*We need radios that work. (IE- Clear reception all over the hospital)
*We need more DPS now !!
*We need training more than once a year

These are HMC Crime Stats that don't LIE !!

August 2007
(6) Vehicle Burglaries Vista Garage (Case #'s Not Shown)
Malicious Mischief 2007-00430 08/16/07 - 01:28 08-16-07, 0128 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Vehicle Prowl 2007-00427 08/08/07 - 13:05 08-08-07, 0830/1305 Vista Garage Open DPS
Vehicle Prowl 2007-00426 08/08/07 - 13:05 08-08-07, 0030/1305 Vista Garage Open DPS
Burglary 2007-00423 08/06/07 - 10:24 08-03/06-07 3 West Clinic Open DPS
Theft 2007-00421 08/06/07 - 07:43 08-06-07, 0743 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00420 08/05/07 - 05:15 08-05-07, 0515 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action

July 2007
Trespass 2007-00416 07/31/07 - 21:19 07-31-07, 2119 1 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00414 07/31/07 - 08:13 07-31-07, 0715/0810 Cafeteria Open DPS
Assault 2007-00413 07/30/07 - 10:19 07-30-07, 1019 8th Ave. Referred to SPD
Weapons Violation 2007-00409 07/26/07 - 02:15 07-26-07, 0215 1 East Hospital Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00408 07/25/07 - 03:15 07-25-07, 0315 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Vehicle Prowl 2007-00407 07/24/07 - 17:49 07-24-07, 1215/1745 Lot 21 Victim Declined Action
Malicious Mischief 2007-00405 07/23/07 - 23:05 07-23-07, 2305 1 West Clinic Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00406 07/23/07 - 02:32 07-23-07, 0232 Basement West Hospital Open DPS
Trespass 2007-00402 07/21/07 - 04:40 07-21-07, 0440 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Drug Violation 2007-00401 07/21/07 - 03:48 07-21-07, 0348 Vista Garage Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00411 07/20/07 - 08:07 07-17/20-07 1 East Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00400 07/19/07 - 13:04 07-19-07, 1245 8th Avenue Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00398 07/18/07 - 06:45 07-13/18-07 4 West Clinic Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00397 07/17/07 - 09:59 07-17-07, 0959 3 West Clinic Open DPS
Burglary 2007-00395 07/16/07 - 06:16 07-13/16-07 12 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00393 07/15/07 - 10:18 07-15-07, 1018 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Assault 2007-00394 07/14/07 - 19:40 07-14-07, 1940 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00390 07/14/07 - 16:33 07-14-07, 1633 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00388 07/13/07 - 09:21 07-12-07 3 West Clinic Open DPS
Assault 2007-00385 07/12/07 - 02:50 07-12-07, 0250 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Vehicle Prowl 2007-00391 07/11/07 - 22:58 07-11-07, 1400/2200 Vista Garage Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00383 07/11/07 - 06:28 07-10/11-07 7 East Hospital Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00380 07/10/07 - 13:40 07-09-07 2 West Hospital Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00381 07/10/07 - 13:40 07-03/08-07 9 East Hospital Open DPS
Harassment 2007-00378 07/10/07 - 06:50 07-10-07, 0650 1 West Clinic Closed DPS
Harassment 2007-00376 07/09/07 - 09:35 07-06/09-07 2 West Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00374 07/08/07 - 12:02 07-08-07, 1202 Psych. Emerg. Services Victim Declined Action
Assault 2007-00372 07/07/07 - 20:10 07-07-07, 2010 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00371 07/07/07 - 00:24 07-07-07, 0024 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Harassment 2007-00369 07/06/07 - 08:50 07-06-07, 0850 4 East Hospital Open DPS
Harassment 2007-00368 07/03/07 - 23:23 07-03-07, 2323 Basement West Hospital Open DPS
Violation of Court Order 2007-00365 07/01/07 - 09:20 07-01-07, 0920 1 East Hospital Open DPS

June 2007
Theft 2007-00364 06/30/07 - 08:48 06-28/30-07 Emerg. Room Open DPS
Assault 2007-00363 06/30/07 - 01:10 06-30-07, 0110 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Harassment 2007-00357 06/26/07 - 00:15 06-26-07, 0015 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Telephone Harass. 2007-00355 06/25/07 - 11:40 06-25-07, 0830 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00352 06/24/07 - 15:26 06-24-07, 1526 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00351 06/24/07 - 08:05 06-23/24-07 1 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Trespass 2007-00353 06/23/07 - 21:10 06-23-07, 2110 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00349 06/22/07 - 13:03 06-22-07, 0800/0930 1 East Clinic Closed DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00348 06/22/07 - 08:55 06-21/22-07 Vista Garage Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00346 06/20/07 - 13:02 06-20-07, 1302 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Harassment 2007-00345 06/20/07 - 08:30 04-30-07 2 West Clinic Open DPS
Theft 2007-00344 06/19/07 - 19:25 06-19-07, 1911 1 East Hospital Open DPS
Theft 2007-00343 06/19/07 - 10:45 06-17-07 9 East Hospital Open DPS
Theft 2007-00341 06/18/07 - 11:08 06-18-07, 1108 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Telephone Harass. 2007-00350 06/18/07 - 10:20 06-13-07 9 East Hospital Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00338 06/18/07 - 04:50 06-18-07 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Liquor Law Violation FIR #00080 06/15/07 - 13:52 06-15-07, 1352 2 West Hospital Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00337 06/14/07 - 19:15 06-14-07, 1845/1900 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00336 06/14/07 - 13:30 06-14-07, 1330 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00335 06/13/07 - 10:49 06-13-07, 1049 Psych. Emerg. Services Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00334 06/12/07 - 16:50 06-12-07, 1650 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00330 06/12/07 - 11:58 06-12-07, 1158 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Harassment 2007-00332 06/12/07 - 10:49 06-12-07, 1049 2 West Clinic Closed DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00329 06/10/07 - 18:00 06-10-07, 1800 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00328 06/09/07 - 23:38 06-09-07, 2338 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00327 06/07/07 - 04:37 06-07-07, 0437 Emerg. Room Open DPS
Theft 2007-00326 06/06/07 - 16:00 06-05-07 Research & Training Bldg. Open DPS
Harassment 2007-00325 06/06/07 - 10:05 04-2007 Basement East Hospital Open DPS
Indecent Exposure 2007-00323 06/05/07 - 19:23 06-05-07, 1923 Ground West Lobby Referred to SPD
Harassment 2007-00322 06/05/07 - 15:45 06-04-07 1st fl. Pat Steel Bldg. Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00321 06/03/07 - 16:15 06-03-07, 1615 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD

May 2007
Theft 2007-00319 05/31/07 - 10:00 05-30/31-07 1st fl. Fire House Open DPS
Burglary 2007-00318 05/31/07 - 07:21 05-30/31-07 1 East Hospital Open DPS
Arson 2007-00317 05/31/07 - 03:31 05-31-07, 0331 5 West Hospital Open DPS
Theft 2007-00316 05/30/07 - 14:20 05-30-07, 1420 3 West Clinic Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00315 05/30/07 - 09:05 05-30-07, 0905 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Burglary 2007-00314 05/30/07 - 01:30 05-29-07 7 East Hospital Victim Declined Action
Assault 2007-00313 05/29/07 - 14:25 05-29-07, 1415/1420 Ground West Lobby Victim Declined Action
Malicious Mishcief 2007-00312 05/29/07 - 05:30 05-29-07, 0530 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Trespass 2007-00311 05/29/07 - 01:25 05-29-07, 0125 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00310 05/28/07 - 17:15 05-28-07, 1715 9 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Intereference w/ a Health C 2007-00309 05/28/07 - 09:53 05-28-07, 0953 2 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00308 05/28/07 - 03:30 05-28-07, 0330 Emerg. Room Open DPS
Trespass 2007-00307 05/28/07 - 02:25 05-28-07, 0225 4 West Hospital Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00306 05/27/07 - 22:27 05-27-07, 2227 Ground West Hospital Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00304 05/25/07 - 22:15 05-25-07, 2205 7 East Hospital Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00302 05/24/07 - 22:10 05-24-07, 1800/2210 6 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00301 05/24/07 - 16:15 04-20-07 7 East Hospital Open DPS
Theft 2007-00300 05/24/07 - 12:25 05-24-07, 1225 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00299 05/23/07 - 23:00 05-23-07 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Sex Offense 2007-00298 05/23/07 - 20:52 05-23-07, 2045/2052 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00297 05/22/07 - 07:42 05-22-07, 0642 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00294 05/21/07 - 16:21 05-21-07, 1610 Ground West Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00293 05/21/07 - 11:34 05-21-07 1st fl., R&T Building Open DPS
Trespass 2007-00292 05/20/07 - 07:13 05-20-07, 0713 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00290 05/18/07 - 06:41 05-18-07, 0611 2 West Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00288 05/15/07 - 11:05 05-15-07, 1103 3 West Hospital Referred to SPD
Burglary 2007-00286 05/15/07 - 10:45 05-13-07 Engineering/Facilities Bldg Open DPS
Assault 2007-00285 05/14/07 - 20:20 05-14-07, 2020 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00284 05/14/07 - 16:54 05-14-07, 1350/1650 2 West Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00283 05/13/07 - 12:45 05-13-07, 1245 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00282 05/10/07 - 06:45 05-10-07, 0030/0100 2 East Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00281 05/10/07 - 02:45 05-10-07, 0245 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00279 05/09/07 - 07:11 05-09-07, 0711 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Burglary 2007-00275 05/07/07 - 16:33 12-06/05-07-07 6 East Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00274 05/07/07 - 10:35 05-07-07, 1035 2 East Hospital Victim Declined Action
Vehicle Prowl 2007-00273 05/07/07 - 08:15 05-06/07-07 Vista Garage Referred to SPD
Drug Violation 2007-00271 05/05/07 - 18:45 05-05-07, 1845 1 East Hospital Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00270 05/05/07 - 16:45 05-05-07, 1645 Emerg. Room Open DPS
Assault 2007-00269 05/05/07 - 01:50 05-05-07, 0150 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Assault 2007-00267 05/04/07 - 04:50 05-04-07 0450 Emerg. Room Open DPS
Theft 2007-00266 05/02/07 - 07:15 05-02-07, 0715 Cafeteria Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00265 05/02/07 - 01:30 05-02-07, 0130 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00264 05/01/07 - 12:45 05-01-07 Boren Garage Open DPS

April 2007(4/12 through 4/30 only)
Theft 2007-00262 04/30/07 - 18:00 04-30-07, 1500/1800 Basement West Hospital Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00261 04/30/07 - 07:53 04-30-07, 0745/0753 1 East Clinic Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00260 04/30/07 - 07:50 04-30-07 Basement West Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00258 04/28/07 - 22:06 04-28-07, 2206 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00256 04/28/07 - 07:15 04-28-07, 0715 Basement West Hospital Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00257 04/27/07 - 17:55 04-27-07, 1755 Ground West Hospital Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00249 04/20/07 - 11:19 04-20-07, 1119 2 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00248 04/19/07 - 13:22 04-19-07, 1322 Ground West Clinic Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00244 04/17/07 - 23:22 04-17-07, 2322 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Harassment 2007-00243 04/17/07 - 16:23 04-17-07, 1620 CPO Bldg. Open DPS
Telephone Harassment 2007-00239 04/16/07 - 01:30 04-16-07, 0130 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Inter. w/ a Health Care Faci 2007-00238 04/15/07 - 09:11 04-15-07, 0911 3 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00236 04/15/07 - 00:40 04-15-07, 0040 2 East Hospital Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00234 04/13/07 - 11:34 04-13-07, 1125/1130 Ground West Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00235 04/13/07 - 10:00 04-06-07 Emerg. Room Open DPS
Sex Offense 2007-00245 04/12/07 - 10:00 2002/2004 10 East Hospital Open DPS
Sex Offense 2007-00245 04/12/07 - 10:00 Sept/Dec, 2006 10 East Hospital Referred to SPD

March 2007(Not available)
February 2007
Assault 2007-00124 02/26/07 - 14:05 02-17-07, 0001 Emerg. Room Victim declined action
Malicious Mischief 2007-00123 02/26/07 - 12:50 02-06-07 1 Basement East Clinic Open DPS
Assault 2007-00122 02/26/07 - 01:49 02-17-07, 0001 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Burglary 2007-00118 02/23/07 - 08:30 02/22-23/07 8 East Hospital Open DPS
Theft 2007-00116 02/21/07 - 09:08 02-21-07, 0903 1 West Clinic Open DPS
Vehicle Prowl 2007-00115 02/20/07 - 23:30 02-20-07, 1600-2330 Vista Garage Referred to SPD
Harassment 2007-00112 02/19/07 - 20:30 02-19-07, 2030 2 West Hospital Closed DPS
Burglary 2007-00110 02/19/07 - 16:20 02-19-07 1 East Clinic Open DPS
Assault 2007-00106 02/17/07 - 00:01 02-17-07, 0001 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Burglary 2007-00100 02/13/07 - 20:00 02-13-07, 1700/2000 3 East Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00099 02/13/07 - 11:05 02-13-07, 1105 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00096 02/11/07 - 01:13 02-11-07, 0113 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00091 02/07/07 - 10:35 02-07-07, 1035 Ground West Clinic Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00089 02/06/07 - 12:16 02-06-07, 1216 hrs Lobby Bistro Closed DPS
Counterfeiting 2007-00088 02/06/07 - 08:05 02-05-07 Vista Garage Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00087 02/05/07 - 22:30 02-05-07, 2230 1 West Clinic Open DPS
Assault 2007-00086 02/05/07 - 15:40 02-05-07, 1540 3 West Clinic Victim Declined Action
Malicious Mischief 2007-00084 02/05/07 - 05:30 02-05-07 1 East Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00083 02/05/07 - 03:26 02-05-07, 0326 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Assault 2007-00082 02/05/07 - 01:45 02-05-07, 0145 Emerg. Room Victim Decined Action
Assault 2007-00081 02/04/07 - 15:40 02-04-07, 1540 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00078 02/04/07 - 11:12 02-04-07, 1112 Psych. Emerg. Services Open DPS
Forgery 2007-00079 02/04/07 - 10:10 02-04-07, 1010 Ground East Hospital Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00077 02/03/07 - 23:45 02-03-07, 2345 Psych. Emerg. Service Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00074 02/02/07 - 07:30 02-02-07, 0720 Cafeteria Open DPS
Assault 2007-00080 02/01/07 - 21:35 02-01-07, 2135 Psych. Emerg. Services Closed DPS

January 2007
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00072 01/31/07 - 18:30 03-13-07, 1830 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00071 01/31/07 - 14:50 01-31-07, 1445/1450 Gift Shop Open DP
Theft 2007-00070 01/30/07 - 11:26 01-30-07, 1126 Cafteria Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00069 01/30/07 - 10:36 01-29-07 2 West Hospital Open DPS
Theft 2007-00068 01/30/07 - 07:15 01-30-07, 0030/0700 2 West Hospital Open DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00066 01/30/07 - 06:11 01-30-07, 0611 Cafeteria Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00065 01/29/07 - 19:58 01-29-07,1940/1950 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00060 01/27/07 - 18:13 01-27-07 1 East Hospital Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00061 01/27/07 - 14:20 01-27-07, 1420 Psych. Emerg. Services Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00058 01/25/07 - 13:30 01-24-07 Terry Ave & Terrace St. Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00057 01/25/07 - 01:58 01-25-07 Cafeteria Open DPS
Theft 2007-00056 01/24/07 - 18:20 01-24-07, 1820 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Liquor Law Violation 2007-00054 01/24/07 - 10:27 01-24-07, 1027 2 West Clinic Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00063 01/24/07 - 09:59 01-24-07, 0730/0959 Ground West Hospital Open DPS
Burglary 2007-00055 01/23/07 - 13:15 01-20/23-07 4 West Hospital Open DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00052 01/23/07 - 12:38 01-23-07, 1238 1 East Hospital Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00051 01/23/07 - 08:45 01-23-07, 0845 Lobby Bistro Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00050 01/23/07 - 03:30 01-23-07, 0330 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00047 01/21/07 - 19:30 01-21-07, 1930 Psych. Emerg. Services Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00048 01/21/07 - 19:15 01-21-07, 1915 5 East Hospital Center Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00046 01/20/07 - 16:00 01-20-07, 1558 5 East Hospital Center Referred to SPD
Theft FIR# 00014 01/20/07 - 12:05 01-20-07, 1205 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00045 01/19/07 - 10:42 01-19-07, 1042 5 East Hospital Center Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00044 01/18/07 - 08:45 01-18-07, 0830/0840 1 East Clinic Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00044 01/18/07 - 08:45 01-18-07, 0830/0840 1 East Clinic Referred to SPD
Assault 2007-00042 01/17/07 - 20:48 01-17-07, 2048 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Theft 2007-00041 01/17/07 - 18:35 01-17-07, 1835 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00039 01/17/07 - 08:05 01-17-07, 0753 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Interference w/ a Health Care Facility 2007-00038 01/16/07 - 20:10 01-16-07, 2010 2 West Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00036 01/16/07 - 09:46 01-16-07, 0830/0901 2 West Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00037 01/16/07 - 08:42 01-14/16-07 Basement East Clinic Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00035 01/15/07 - 12:28 01-15-07, 1228 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00033 01/15/07 - 00:25 01-15-07, 0025 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Malicious Mischief 2007-00032 01/13/07 - 14:30 01-13-07 4 West Hospital Open DPS
Harassment 2007-00028 01/11/07 - 11:30 01-11-07, 1130 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00027 01/11/07 - 07:40 01-11-07, 0740 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Assault 2007-00026 01/10/07 - 21:20 01-10-07, 2120 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Burglary 2007-00029 01/10/07 - 16:15 unk 3rd fl. Pat Steel Bldg. Open DPS
Assault 2007-00024 01/09/07 - 23:28 01-09-07, 2328 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Malicious Mischief 2007-00023 01/09/07 - 03:55 01-09-07 1 East Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00031 01/08/07 - 23:55 01-08-07, 2355 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00022 01/08/07 - 22:58 01-08-07, 2258 2 East Hospital Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00018 01/08/07 - 08:06 01-01/08-07 Ground West Hospital Open DPS
Assault 2007-00016 01/08/07 - 06:20 01-08-06, 0620 Emerg. Room Referred to SPD
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00015 01/06/07 - 21:27 01-06-07, 2127 5 East Hospital Closed DPS
Disorderly Conduct 2007-00013 01/06/07 - 21:00 01-06-07, 2100 Emerg. Room Closed DPS
Theft 2007-00012 01/05/07 - 19:25 01-05-07, 1925 Cafeteria Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00009 01/05/07 - 14:10 01-05-07, 1410 Cafeteria Closed DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00008 01/04/07 - 10:35 01-04-07, 1010 3 West Hospital Referred to SPD
Theft 2007-00006 01/03/07 - 10:51 01-03-07, 1051 Ground West Hospital Open DPS
Malicious Mischief 2007-00007 01/03/07 - 04:45 01-03-07, 0445 Psych. Emerg. Services Open DPS
Assault 2007-00004 01/02/07 - 18:20 01-02-07, 1820 Emerg. Room Victim Declined Action
Assault 2007-00005 01/02/07 - 15:08 01-02-07, 1508 Psych. Emerg. Services Open DPS
Theft 2007-00003 01/02/07 - 13:03 01-02-07, 1130/1145 Ground East Hospital Open DPS
Trespass 2007-00001 01/01/07 - 01:53 01-01-07, 0153 1 East Hospital Referred to SPD

Want to SEE more? Go to www.hsosa.org

I just read this entire blog and I have to say we are here talking about "Harborview Safety" I think the safety of patients need to be adressed since we are on a "safety" topic. I work in the ER and I have been there for 6 years. I went to part time two years ago because the ER is just a sinking ship. From the REgistration Department to DPS to the RN's. None of the departments are EVER fully staffed. I have had morning where I walk in and we have over 25 boarders. Patients bed just lined up in hallways and rooms that hold 4 critical patients have 6 in them. Nurses not being able to provide the care to the patients that is needed. Is that safe? We have 8 hour wait times, IS THAT SAFE? We have one nurse taking care of 3 intubated plus other patients, Is that Safe? No! Do I feel safe as an employee at HMC, NO but that is something you know when you get a job at HMC. I have had computer monitors thrown at me, I have been spit on, I have had patients jump over the counter reaching for me and get yelled and cursed at on a daily basis. That to me is HMC ER, is this ok, NO but its life at HMC. Does Administration have to encounter this on the daily no they are upstairs and rarely visit the ER. Issues and concerns have been taken to management regarding staff shortages in all departments and what we encounter on the daily but it has remained the same since I have been there. I do have to say in the last two years I have noticed that Registration and DPS both have hired some people that I would not consider "Qualified" to work in the ED. HMC is a wonderful hospital and safes lives every day however, for being the "Level 1 Trauma Center" if we were to have a disaster with the new staff and the shortage in the ED I would hate to be working that day and would really not want to be a patient. HMC does what it wants when it wants and make decisions made by people who dont work in our departements but sit up stairs and attend meetings all day then tell us what we need to do or need not to do. The idea of a Trooper in the lobby is GREAT however, is it really worth the money? If there is a need for officers in the locked psych unit he cannot help them out because he carries a gun. I have seen a trooper help out in just a few calls and he usually stand back and allows the officers to do everything and is there for presence only. I have been on vacation for the past month so I have not seen the renovation of the new ED REG area. But, I have heard that the desks flip up, BAD IDEA and that there are no officers near us, another BAD IDEA. HOw is it that Auburn General which treats what, coughs and runny noses has bullett proof glass but HMC in the hear of the projects, near downtown and serves the patient population we do and we do not? That is one fear I always stated was that if someone walked in the ER and started shooting ED REG was going to be the ones that got shot along with the triage nurse if she was at her desk. We are there for patients to throw things at spit on etc. Once a patient gets checked in and goes to the back or to PES they are searched but while they sit at our desk and get angry, increase there high, or have a psychotic break we are the ones on the frontline. DPS had an office in the ED that was removed, BAD IDEA. The ER needs at least two officers in it at all times, not 5 standing there sharing there weekend stories but two that are there if needed in which most shifts are. HMC can go from quite to chaotic in the matter of minutes. I dont believe DPS should carry guns by no means, that is a very scary thought, but I do believe they need to be trained and be psychically and mentally capable of doing their tough job. I now work at Overlake and have to say that it is a much nicer atmosphere to park in a garage on across the street, walk in to hardwood floors and have not been approached in a negative manner nor do I feel as if I have to watch my back as I walk to see if I am being followed nor have I been cursed at or had anything thrown or spit at me. HMC Staff are amazing and deal with a lot more than any other facility but are never get a simple "Thank you" instead you have to worry about if your going to get written up for something or in Tyler's case put on Admin leave. Some people are allowed to do certain things and then when another does it they get in trouble. Communication is HORRIBLE at HMC and so you never know what you can or cant do or what policies have changed. Just my opinion!

Assault is not always physical. Stats are contrived.

To the nurses and staff memebers who feel safe, I ask you, Why do you suppose that is? Is it because there is no crime and HMC is in the best neighborhood in Seattle? Or are you naive enough to believe that just because you feel safe that there is no problem. To the ten year ER nurse - When you see these guys take off running to somewhere every day, do you honestly think they are responding to a sale on coffee and donuts in the cafeteria? The reality is, is that you are in only a small part of a much larger picture. Just because you don't see it happening where you are doesn't mean it doesn't happen. When you go home at night and feel safe and can watch TV without someone coming into your home and raping or killing you or your family, is that coincidence? Or is the reality that there are people out on the streets protecting you so well that you don't even notice.
You make this big issue about guards having guns. Why are guards, as you call them, not mature enough or smart enough to be trained to handle that responsibility? I've got news for you. Those police officers you see every day that are carrying guns, they used to be untrained just like the DPS guys but after extensive training and education, they carry guns!!! Holy mackerel, cops carry guns and you don't have a problem with that but you do have an issue with the people protecting you directly having them. Just because Security is armed doesn't mean they would run around shooting everyone they see. Get real!! Just like the bloggers before were saying, no one is asking for firearms, they are asking for the tools and authority to do their jobs. If you feel safe it is because these guys are doing the impossible for the ungrateful without the tools or training they need and deserve.
As a nurse you have the training and clear guidelines as well as the tools to do your job. Could you take a blood pressure without a BP cuff and stethescope? Could you give the proper treatment to a patient if you didn't receive the training on how to accomplish that? So why is it any different for the DPS Officers to want to get the requisite training and tools to do their job effectively. All they truly want to do is to protect you, the patients and visitors and make you all feel safe while performing their jobs in a safe and professional manner.

Remember, when you see these guys running to a call, they are generally running into an unknown situation with little to no training and no tools to effectively deal with it whether it is an out of control patient or a suspicious person. I hope you continue to feel safe. That means someone, somewhere is putting their life on the line to make you feel that way and I hope you wake up and realize that.

You want data, look at the data posted on HSOSA.org

As to having weapons or not, well you have to remember all the crime that happens at the institution and the fact that we can't act on a good portion if we feel threatened or unsafe to do so. Once somebody comes in and decides to start hunting people, SPD will be here soon. But will that be soon enough? They too are understaffed.

I know a good portion of officers will not be running to a shooting incident. There would be nothing we as officers can do anymore than the rest of the staff can.

What defines assault? Tresspassing is not assault. Which of these offenses warrants pepper spraying or tazing patients, families, and staff? Unfortunately crime happens. Welcome to life! I agree, we need defined authority and the other things listed (and less top heaviness)...but do we really need to taze people? Have you ever heard of a 'show of force?'

No, assault is not always physical. Threats that you believe could occur and that reasonably frighten you are called harassment and are a crime. If DPS Officers counted those the numbers would be far greater. We are threatened repeatedly and have learned to ignore it. But I have been kicked and hit and bitten several times. Many officers have been repeatedly assaulted and injured, not just one or two. The stats above are from the Clery Act Crime Log which the federal government mandates we provide. The rules are very specific as to what has to be reported and what doesn't. The hospital isn't going to report a crime they don't have to or count a stat that truly isn't one. The numbers above are the reported incidents that we have had to deal with as officers.

One more thing, I make more working in the beautiful environment as most most other facilities pay there RN's, DPS's and all staff for that matter more then HMC Staff makes.. We all work at HMC because we believe in the MISSION but with all that is going on there these days I think staff are starting to see that they can make more, live healthier and not have near the worries at another facility and that is why HMC turn over rate is at a high right now.

The officers report everything from a "perceived threat" which can be anything and is subjective to a someone spitting. It is pumped up information to make it look unsafer than it is.

Reading the blog I read that many of the staff members say its only a hand full of officers who are angry, that’s not true months ago over 95% of the officers signed a letter that went to the president of U.W saying we needed better training and equipment to do our job, and asked for help at no point did we ask for guns or have we asked for guns. We are currently under staffed and I have seen nothing from our administration to hire more officers. The position of Chief and Deputy Chief are vacant due to both quitting on a very short notice. The three people that are currently in charge of the department are not qualified to run the department, but have brought the morale of the department to an all time low.

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
Req #: 30966
Department: HMC PUBLIC SAFETY
Job Location: Harborview Medical Center
Posting Date: 03/16/2007
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $2588 - $3371 per month
Union Position: Yes
This classification is governed by a negotiated labor contract and is subject to union shop provisions. For more information about union shop provisions, visit Union Information
Shift: Rotating or Variable
Notes: This requisition will be used to fill two full time positions.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Req #: 34966
Department: HMC PUBLIC SAFETY
Job Location: Harborview Medical Center
Posting Date: 07/09/2007
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: Salary is commensurate with education and experience.
Notes: For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.

You CANNOT give security guards tasers or pepper spray. Many of our patients, even the violent ones, have medical histories that would make even those non-lethal subduing devices quite lethal. We need to stop these violent people in a way that does not kill them.

Yes, security is an issues. Yes, it needs improvement. Yes, it seems like there is some sort of administrative cover-up or drama going on. But Tasers and pepper spray WILL kill people in the vulnerable medical state they are at when in HMC.

HMC is not the streets! I agree it is not the safest place but that is why we have security guards or DPS officers. It is not so unsafe we require "Police Officers" or Security with Guns. Yes I agree they should have training but would a nurse go to the OR and do Surgery NO! So DPS needs to do security and not try and be a "Police Officer". There are DPS guys that in no way, shape or form should have a gun half of the officers there shouldnt even being doing the job and that is why you have so many injuries. I have watched DPS respond to calls and fall as they were running or taking off to run, I have heard DPS officers SCREAM like a women as they stood back and watched a man assault a female officer. If you look at stats you will see that there are many officers injured but WHY is a better question to look at. Some officers check in for being spit on while you have staff that is spit on that doesnt check in for it. Yes we have a wide range of patients from drug addicts, to homeless, drunk to distraut trauma patient families but we are not the only hospital on the hill. Swedish, Providence and VM are all there as well and have security officers. They may not have as many incidents due to there patient volume being lower but they all respond to the same things HMC officers do. Before you even get hired as a DPS officer you should have some experience in the same field/situations as a qualification, right? So stop complaining and do your job instead of mingling with staff, sleeping with staff, surfing the internet, smoking, watching tv upstairs, or standing there talking bad about HMC to other officers and staff. If you are unhappy LEAVE.

Redd or Lewis- Will you marry me?

Who in their right mind posted the blog about TASERS and PEPPER SPRAY killing people? So you mean to tell me that even though you have a nursing degree, you STILL believe that TASERS and PEPPER SPRAY will KILL people in a 'vulnerable medical state' and the illegal drugs that they put in their own bodies won't? They're labeled "NON-LETHAL" for a reason! Now I don't believe in the need to use TASERS and PEPPER SPRAY on patients, but some of these violent people need it so they don't hurt others. Where did you get your degree? Let me guess...BRYMAN

King 5 - stellar reporting, using a blog. Just creating air waves for current staff to be targets and potentially be injured.

You are the Enquierer.

Take your viewing elsewhere. Write to sponsors. King 5 is horrific and should be held accountable.

Chris Ingalls: Do you understand the term "consider the source". Seek further and yee shall find the truth....

Case #'s are shown....

I have a response to some of the comments above. Logically speaking, if any administrator is unhappy with things at HMC aren't they just as free to leave and get another job as any DPS officer?

I challenge anyone sho doesn't believe the numbers to go to 8EH 74 and ask for a copy of the Clery Act Crime Log from the Public Safety records. They have to provide them to you. You can also take the case numbers above and do a Public records request through the state. Names and such will be redacted but you should be aloe to read about the criminal activity.

Chris Ingells: consider your source?

Come on people. Only 18 more for an even 100 comments. You can do it !!!

This is really pretty sad. The facts are there for anyone to research. I challange you to get those facts for yourselves and do the math. These officers are getting hurt!

But by all means, tell them to go find another job. Stop protecting people. You are stupid and worthless anyhow you pathetic wannabe cops.

Do you not realize that these officers CARE about the mission of the hospital? That they feel it is so important to protect people that they stay in a crummy job taking abuse for less pay then they could get elsewhere?

Do you not also realize that the reason that some newly hired officers are less then adequate is that no one in their right mind would otherwise take a job doing as was stated earlier, the impossible for the ungrateful?

I also challange each of you non-hmc staff members out there to put this to the test. find out for yourselves. Go to the Harborview ER on a Friday or Saturday night. Any one of them. Sit there and watch for a couple of hours. See what goes on there.

Go get those stats for yourselves. Request the documentation. Don't take the word of the officers or the hospital. Find out for your self.

As it says, the truth will set you free.

Learn the truth.

To Former Officer-

Where do you get the detailed info? Is it online?

Go Tina Mankowski!!!

"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.

WHY do you need MORE than a baton?

The DPS stats are contrived because these new guys, forced by the union, are driving up the #s. They report every thing, exagerated, in an attempt to make HMC appear more dangerous than it is (look at what WFSE did at Western State). This is not new, or even news, this has been going on for a couple of years now.

All working stiffs want things better, that's just how the hierarchy goes... I want more money, more prestige, etc., but in order to get it I have to show that I'm efficient, effective and worth it. Not create missery, distrust, and fake #s.

As you peruse this blog, it becomes perfectly clear that there are those with valid issues, those with valid concerns, those with valid arguments and those who clearly have no idea what to say. So they choose to deflect the issues at hand and blame King 5, or a "few" disgruntled officers that "want to carry guns". Oh yes, these are the masterminds who have created this mess in the first place. The very people who want to flaunt the achievements of HMC, which are valid, and yet ignore the very people who want to make it even better.

For those of you making the argument that there are only a "few officers" who are unhappy, check your facts. Those five officers were offered a severance package over four years ago and were summarily dismissed from HMC. Now, there is a whole new set of officers with the exact same issues, and hmmmm, wouldn't you know it, the exact same hospital administration in place. Ironic isn't it?

The funny thing is, if say for instance HMC only employed Medical Assistants instead of Nurses, that should be ok, right? I mean, they basically do the same thing as nurses, but without the backgorund, training, experience, licensure, certifications and tools. Sure the patients would suffer a little bit, and we might lose a few more, but...that wouldn't happen very often and as long as we keep it quiet, nobody will know, right? And think of the money we would save, my goodness! Of course when JCAHO or State come in, we will have to hire some temporary nurses and make sure we are fully staffed so we keep getting our federal money. Get my point? Maybe not yet!

There was a time when HMC was on the right track with DPS, and those officers who are still there will remember. The idea being that the standards for hiring, training, field training, supervision and that evil necessity, customer service were to be elevated to ensure a first-class, professional, highly trained and highly devoted department. The problem was, that in order to get the type of training needed, officers would have to undergo psychological, physical, and comprehensive background checks to qualify. That would mean that some officers might not be qualified to be in their current positions. Wouldn't you know it, that idea was met with resistance from administration as well.

The funny part of all of this is that you HMC "do-gooders" don't want officer's who are familiar with HMC's mission population to have the equipment and training they need to do their job, but by god, let's bring in the traffic cops who have no clue what HMC is, to provide an armed presence. Isn't that basically admitting there is a need for a police presence? IF HMC is so safe, why the troopers? Why SPD for years before that? Why the need for a metal detector and x-ray machine? I don't know folks, sounds like Disneyland to me. The reality is this, nothing will ever change at HMC, at least not before someone dies trying to protect it.

How to get these statistics:

Easiest is to go to or call teh DPS office on the 8th Floor of east hospital and request the Cleary stats. They are required by law to provide this information.

Tougher is to do a Freedom of Information act request and get the files themselves with specific details. Names will of course be redacted as will medical information, but again they must provide them though there may be a fee involved.

Why do they need more than a baton.

Forst they need more and adequate training specific to the role they fill. Officers are given approximately 100 hours at the beginning, but as roles change or as new policies come into effect more training is needed. An example Officers have requested in writing that they be provided with stress management training. Can anyone at all doubt that that would be beneficial? Officers want clearly worded policies that they can follow. No more verbal orders. It is a fact that the lieutenants running the department often REFUSE to put orders down on paper. Why? What are they hiding?

It is fact that officers get injured. You have read the argument that Getting spit on is not an injury. Getting kicked is not an injury. Getting stabbed with a needle is not an injury. It has been written that officers should not report these assaults. But what happenes if they don't? One officer got a ere scratch. He reported it. It turned out that it got terribly infected. Had he not reported it would it have been covered? Nope.

Think of it this way. If you were to go to work everyday and get sworn at, spit on, urine thrown at, hit with canes, punched in the face, choked to the point of blacking out only to be saved by a cafeteria staff member while Doctors stood by and did nothing, would you report it? Would you stand for it? You might if you were truely dedicated to a mission as many officers AND nurses here have. Even the Nurses that disagree above deserve the respect of acknowledgement. But what would you do if you were told to stop whining, suck it up, or that you should have thought of that before applying.

As to the get another job, or wannabe posts. Too many of us have done just that. Gotten another job. But where does that leave you? If every Doctor that is assaulted or spit on were to quit and go to more lucrative jobs what would you do for care? Can you imagine the amount of money Dr. Copass would make in private practice?? But he works hard, at his age, to help people. Is it so impossible to imagine that mere Security Officers might care about people too? Remember this ISN'T about the money. This is about a few details.

Authority to do the job they need to do. Officers are told to NOT engage even if they actually see someone stealing a purse infornt of them. Officers are told they do not have a duty to act! They should not get involved in a fight if there is any risk to them. instead they are to watch an innocent visitor get beaten rather than to step in.

Second they need more training. Training to do a very difficult job under very difficult circumstances. Stress management training. More descalation tools so they can talk people down rather the HAVING to fight.

And finally adequate tools. People assume that means Guns. This is not practical in a Hospital with active Psyche wards. None of the officers want guns. But non-lethal force is absolutely a good idea. Alot of disparaging remarks are being made about tazers. Reasearch them is my next challange. See the stats and facts. Should they be used inevery circumstance? Of course not. TRAINING! But what about the irate gang banger refusing to leave. Assaulting his wife or child then fighting officers. Pulling a knife? Ask a Police officer. How many times has just PULLING a tazer stopped a confrontation cold? I watched police one night pull a tazer on one belligerant man. Onlookers told the man he really didn't want none of THAT and he backed down. Research this stuff. See for your self! This non-lethal tool will curb injuries, better stop confrontation and may absolutely save lives. Heck many tazers have a camera that starts when they are used. ACCOUNTABILITY! Since many here clearly think these guys are stupid or immature. Hold these people accountable.

It all comes down to the public. Their perception on things. Please write to your King County Council man, or your State Senator/Rep! Believe me there may come a day when YOU have to come to the Hospital on the hill, when a loved one is getting the care that quite simply ONLY Harborview and its highly proficient medical staff can provide. You will be sitting in the ED waiting room next to the mentally ill person who goes nuts and starts throwing monitors, or the criminal just WAITING for you to take your eyes off your purse.

You may become one of the statistics that Harborview is claiming are inflated or false. YOU might watch as the DPS Officers stand by and watch as you get assaulted because they need to wait for Seattle Police to arrive.

The statistics are true! As stated earlier do not take MY word, do not take the word of thse claiming they are false! Learn for yourself!

I am pationate in this and I assure you I have NOTHING to gain. I do not work at Harborview. But I know first hand those that do. I have seen them bleed. I have seen their frustration. Let them do their jobs!

Stats are fake, and you continue to repost and repost under different names, etc.

This is our mission, get a grip. If you want something different go to UWMC, Evergreen or Swedish.

Use your training. You are suppose to be professionals, behave like it.

The stats are fake.

To interested - 8 East Hospital is where the Cleary act statistics are kept, at the DPS office. There is also a website called HSOSA.org. It has a pretty good and accurate timeline of the department and all the stats for the last several years.

To DPS earlier posting - A show-of -force is a great idea, when dealing with the medical restraint of an out of control patient. So here's the scenario; you get a code three call to a man with a gun and all officers respond. Now, assuming that the staffing is still about the same the headlines the next day would read "5 DPS officers slain by man with a gun while doing a "show-of-force".

Wake up. If you are truly a DPS Officer, you need to quit and go work for McDonalds because you really don't know what is going on in that place. Or maybe, you're one of the officers referred to earlier that " should do your job instead of mingling with staff, sleeping with staff, surfing the internet, smoking, watching tv upstairs, or standing there talking bad about HMC to other officers and staff.
If you're not DPS and I suspect you're not, then you should do your own research before you speak about complex subjects that are above your head.

To all those who think this issue is so inconsequential that you would ask Redd or Lewis to marry you or keep tally on how many comments till we reach 100 - 5 Center called, it's time for you to return from your smoke break.

One other thing that you should go to your congress people about-if a patient came in and assaulted a doctor, nurse and a security guard, he/she would only be charged with 2 felonies-the security guard doesn't count as a health care worker or a public servant. Yet, we ask them to step in for us.

Quote:

"This is our mission, get a grip. If you want something different go to UWMC, Evergreen or Swedish."

Do you read anything? THAT is the point? Who is served if all the good officers that are actually dedicated to doing their jobs for the love of the mission and the clients were to leave and go somewhere safer?

I mean sure you will look better if you are the best that is left.

But the rest of you. They are saying the stats are fake. I say they are true and are in fact actually understated because of the strict standards Harborview imposes so they can weed out as many crimes as they can.

Others here say they are Fake.

Research for yourself! These stats are provided by the University by LAW. They compile them. NOT the DPS Officers. THEY edit them as much as they legally can.

What is Harborview's motive? Well THAT is easy! They don't want to scare away students, investors, or accredators.

My motive? You are just going to have to trust me since I am anonamous(sic) But Really I have nothing to gain. I don't work there anymore. BUT myself or a family member MAY well find that they are treated there someday. Motive enough to fight for change.

what does the administrator for CSS think about all of this?

As a proud HMC employee for over 7 years, I find this blog shameful. Shame on King 5 - which I now choose to boycott- for enabling this public forum for innuendos, name-calling and fabrications. To the protesting officers: Shame on you. You are not supported by those of us who choose to work here. I wonder if, with your current agenda, you will really use your extensive training to respond as needed, or if you will allow situations to develop in order to deliberately boost your "stats." The bottom line is that I don't trust you anymore. And that's the real shame.

Harborview Medical Center

Public Safety Crime Statistics


2002
2003
2004
2005
Total

Public Safety Officers

Injured in violent acts
31
39
21
52
143

Required Emergency

Check-in
13
13
8
26
60

Non Check-in / unknown
15
22
8
22
67

Body Fluid Exposure
3
4
5
4
16



Assaults Occurring at HMC
89
149
121
134
493

Assaults on Public Safety Officer
44
52
40
50
186

Assaults on Medical / Clinical Staff
31
71
53
65
220

Assaults on Patient / Visitor
13
23
26
16
78

Assaults on KC Jail /

Seattle Police Officers
1
3
2
3
9



Attempted Assaults
13
7
5
12
37

Pre-emptive Assaults

NOTE: Officer took control of

violent/combative individual before

they could attack.
7
16
18
9
50

Workplace Violence Reports
N/A
N/A
N/A
234
234

Disorderly Conduct /

Disturbance Calls
N/A
260
189
197
646

Disorderly Conduct /

Disturbance Reports
29
29
39
59
156

Duress/Panic Alarm Calls
N/A
98
217
232
547

Code Five Calls

(Out of control patient)
N/A
28
38
23
89

Suspicious Person Calls
N/A
924
650
621
2195

Criminal Trespass Admonishments

Issued
156
212
175
54
597

Harassment Reports
N/A
49
44
40
133

Theft Reports
N/A
144
228
231
603



Gunshot Wounds (GSW)

Brought to HMC
N/A
206
175
175
556

GSW Not Reported to Police
….
….
64
69
133

Stab Wounds (SW)

Brought to HMC
N/A
196
136
167
499

SW Not Reported to Police
….
….
59
66
125

To all the readers at the blog what is safer to get hit by a metal baton or taser. With all the gang violence on the rise in seattle and other criminal activity going on wake up! this is not wonderland, if you think that move to wonderland where everything is wonderful.

SEATTLE -- A Seattle woman stumbled into Harborview Medical Center with multiple stab wounds to her chest early Thursday morning, police said.

The woman told police she was stabbed a few blocks from the hospital, and she was able to walk there on her own.

To Pam O'brien,
Isn't if funny that you blame the officers and say shame on us and you are an assistant administrator. Also, your direct boss sat in Joint Labor Management meetings where administration told Public Safety to back out of dangerous situations and not to stop and detain anyone committing a crime. You must be real proud of him - but shame on us. Yet, you've trusted Public Safety to protect you for seven years, but now that we ask for better training and equipement you no longer trust us? Go Figure!

Name calling and baiting others into a war of words is distracting, and taking away from the issues you DPS Officers are trying to address.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. State your opinion on the issue and give a reasonable reason why you feel the way you do. In doing this, others may be able to better understand the various stances on the issues at hand. Don't belittle, insult, call people names, or post assumptions of who's who on the blog postings, all this does is stir the pot.

I noted a few people are upset that King 5 has a blog on this story. I see this as a resource for interested parties to voice an opinion, ask a question or make a statment. I do not see the blog as a news story.

As for the posting above. Keep in mind the "direct boss" your refering to is accountable to alot of people, including his boss. You cannot expect him to contradict his superiors on matters of hospital policy in an open meeting. I always found him supportive of DPS during my time with HMC.

“I noted a few people are upset that King 5 has a blog on this story. I see this as a resource for interested parties to voice an opinion, ask a question or make a statement. I do not see the blog as a news story.”

I wasn’t going to write in and contribute to this blog until I read this person’s comment. It wasn’t until I read the person’s comment did I realize this person is most likely correct in their feeling. Let’s do our best to provide facts, whether you support HMC Administration or the DPS Officers and their union; and let the viewers make an informed decision. Officer Supporters; you aren’t’ doing us any good by not following this advise. HMC Administration supporters, you aren’t doing administration any good by not following this advice.
I have read in a previous posting that this probably was a last ditch effort by an officer who is on administrative leave. Everyone is entitled to think what they want about why I am doing what I am doing. Would you like to know the reason though and not have to guess? As a shop steward I have seen multiple employees get placed on administrative leave and it always has ended with termination. My thought in coming forward and telling the truth is by no means any attempts to persuade administration not to carry out whatever it is they have planned for me. My thought process was simply that I have a larger chance in not coming back to HMC than I do coming back, so I may as well spotlight the issues that I was actually working on trying to resolve with management before (and still am) trying to resolve. Do you really think that if I was interested in “last efforts” I would go and most likely piss management off? It’s bigger than me and it’s bigger than you, it’s about everyone’s safety and what is right and what is the truth! Truth be told, I know I didn’t do anything wrong so I’m not afraid for all news viewers to hear everything, I’m an open book! My employment history, well viewers my HR file does not have 1 single negative article in it, in fact, it has only six positive recognitions where I have went beyond what is expected. So, no personal attacks please, as they would be untruthful and without factual substance.

What I seem to be seeing a lot on this blog is “they just want to be cops” and “guns” and go work somewhere else. First, it really comes down to the hospital administration making changes to address safety, BUT they must actually make changes! Really, it is almost pointless to tell anyone what we want as officers because it just gets thrown back in our face and twisted. What really needs to be said is: there is a problem here, a hospital should not have these volumes of crime and violence and the hospital should come up with a solution to address it. It should be a top priority! The crime rate is not acceptable nor is the amount of violence or injuries to our staff. If Harborview Administration has another way outside of better equipment or training (as we have suggested), then lets hear it. But simply denying factual statistics that anyone can see is just idiotic and only will end up coming back to haunt you.

What viewers need know is that statistics are factual and very accurate. There is no way possible to dispute them. When a Harborview security officer takes a call, they complete an incident report. That incident report is then viewed and approved by a manager. When a manger reviews this report, they look to make sure the narrative of the report spells out and fits a certain criteria for the incident type (i.e. theft, or assault) the officer has labeled the report. Those reports, after being approved by a manger are then sent up and reviewed by the Public Safety Dispatch Manager who is tasked by administration of keeping the CLERY ACT Crime log current and ACCURATE. The statistics that the public safety officers have been citing in all the news interviews and other statements have been pulled from this management approved reporting system. For management to say they aren’t true (accurate) is really illogical and not bright, considering it is their system and their mangers reviewing and approving the data!

Harborview is safe? I guess it’s a matter of opinion really. If hundreds of assaults and thefts on a medical center campus is your idea of safe, then yup, it’s safe (to you)! Personally, how I was brought up and most of our public safety officers were brought up, we were taught that assaulting a person(s) or stealing their property was wrong, so that is the crux of why most of us believe HMC is not safe and has a great margin to improve in.

“Why don’t you just leave if you don’t like it here”? Good point, over thirty have in only a few years. It’s called recruitment and retention people! When such a large number of employees leave a certain department, it says there is a problem. The safety concerns have been present for over 4 years now through different generations of officers. Officers have come and gone, old and new and the SAME issues are brought up. So is it fair to say it’s the same group of officers who just want to be cops, or who are disgruntled? Further, no officer is disgruntled. We have said time and time again we love University of Washington and HMC and what it stands for. That is what keeps most of us coming to work every day. Our co-workers, to include RN’s are all terrific people and we mesh quite well. It’s not wrong to want to come to work and not get assaulted though! It’s a simple workplace right and when law enforcement officers don’t even deal with what we deal with who are sworn to protect and put their life on the line – there is a real problem when you take into consideration items like; training, authority, equipment, pay, (work conditions) etc.

It has always been my personal opinion that non medical trained public safety officers should not be having patient contact. How is it safe and fair to a patient, even a out of control patient to have a non medically trained person holding you down, etc when you are in a medical facility for medical treatment? Public Safety Officers have no idea about airways, certain head holds, hand holds, joints, etc., and have no place in the patient care arena. For the “nurses” that are writing in saying pepper spray is bad and taser are bad for patients. Yup, they probably are, so you deal with the patients and we will deal with the others as we cannot properly deal with any patient no matter what their cooperativeness is like if they have a medical condition (perhaps this is why medical providers sometimes clash with officers?). Our specialty is security and public safety and yours is patient care. But this concept I speak of would never happen!! That is because the medical staff calls the public safety officers when they are scared of a patient (which is all the time at HMC) and think they are going to be assaulted, etc. So then, your loyal public safety officers show up and man handle the patient for you and take the assault for you? Please be more considerate about what you are saying before you post on here! The officers are compassionate about protecting you and this is why they do the man handling for you and take the punches and kicks for you.

Names: I don’t agree with anyone pointing fingers in this forum. Johnese Spisso, Robert Hamilton, etc are both very educated, good people and have done a great job in the majority of their management at HMC. In fact, I would venture to say no one really knows why security hasn’t been improved… It could be the UW Board of Regents who are condoning the safety shortfalls and local administration is just following marching orders? There is a reason why HMC is known so well for its great medical programs. But, we shouldn’t let that cover up a subsection of operation within the hospital. You are only as strong as the weakest within your empire! In example, if you have an employee who was a excellent employee, jumped over mountains, walked on water and knew what you wanted without you asking, but this employee stole from you; would you over look the stealing and not terminate this employee? Nope! Just because HMC is a great hospital does not mean sub department or issues are not worth every little bit of attention, concern and correction. Being libeley hostile and scrutinizing security officers because they believe in protecting staff and patients is completely wrong.

So I have a challenge for all you blog readers and posters on this site. If there were other ways to address the safety concerns (lowering the crime rates, YES PEOPLE, THE NUMBERS ARE TRUE!) how would you do it? Even if you still don’t believe in your head that the numbers are true, pretend you do! Let’s see all you public safety experts address crime and violence without the use of any authority or equipment. Shall we pass out bibles at every entrance and hope god strikes their hearts and minds when entering the hospital doors? But for real, let’s hear it, what will address the crime and violence and lower assaults, thefts and other crime? We as officers are open to suggestions and actual, we would appreciate them! We want not be hurt and the other staff, patients and visitors not to be victimized at a time they are most likely in stress and need of the best medical care.

Thank you for your time in reading this.
Sincerely, Tyler J. Miller (soon to be terminated for the wrong reasons)

WOW !

I had no idea Harborview had such a problem brewing.

Thanks to you all for peaking my interest.

Can anyone tell me why some of you who claim to be employees or former employees won’t use your names, and some of you will. I am wondering if it might be in fear of retribution or reprisal from your employer or former employer, but then why are some of you using your names without fear. I’m guessing it might be that what you are saying is in defense of Harborview and your employer welcomes it, but does that set the record straight or give us the actual truth? Who knows? I would guess the victims of the crimes might.

I have a suggestion. This is directed to the employer of these un-named and named employees and ex-employees. Go on camera and let these people know that you their employer or former employer will not seek them out and make there life miserable or attempt to fire them, and have these people go on camera and let the general public know who they are where in Harborview they work and how they feel about their safety while they are at work performing at their jobs at Harborview. That way we the public can make up our own minds and we don’t have to rely on information from a few employees who feel comfortable using there full names and or rehearsed scripted information. This instills skepticism and reluctance in the publics mind.

Any takers ??

Everyone prepare yourselves you may not like what you hear but it will be straight from the horses mouth,…. so to speak.

I know it’s a challenge but let’s look at what is at stake. We need to know this information so we the general public, and potential students and employees know what to expect when we need or what to visit the highest regarded place in four states to get care or further our education and possibly a job. You as an employer and an employee should give us this information without a second thought so as to ensure our safety and piece of mind.

How about now… Any takers??

WOW !

I have been to the University of Washington website trying to get some information on my own and I can’t find Harborview Medical Centers Cleary Crime statistics. It’s so confusing it says they are there but it looks like they are mixed in with some other smaller clinics and U.W. buildings.

Isn’t Harborview Medical Center it’s own major facility located in downtown Seattle, and the University of Washington is way north by Lake Washington. Why would these statistics be posted for a facility several miles away. I mean if I was going to the University of Washington and not to Harborview Medical Center I surely would not want to be misled and scared by crime statistics from totally different part of Seattle, that is just irresponsible publication and misleading.

Is there a way to get just Harborview Medical Centers Cleary Crime statistics because clearly the University campus is not included in this turmoil of interest.

Anyone ?? HMC Administrators ? Security Director ? Anyone?

First and formost I would like all my fellow HMC staff members too know that no one doubts for one moment the great institution that Harborview is and what great people work there. I for one am quite proud that I can tell people that I work at Harborview Medical Center. For this reason I would like to apologize to all of you for having to endure this situation. I understand that it is very hard for individules to take side on burning issues.

Having said that, I would like to address a couple of issues that I came across. To the staff member making the suggestion that if the DPS Officers did not like working here they should find other employment. Well, I agree with you "they should" but lets see now, they have families and bills. We have officers here that have been 10, 15 and even 25 years. So you advocate that these officers should just pack up and leave their families without an income or any benifits and throw away their careers. "Would you do that to your family?", whether you liked your job or not. Second, you suggested that HMC outsource it's Security/Public Safety. Well if you think we're bad wait till you get a bunch of guards that get minimum wages and as I recall HMC at one time did have contract gaurds here. I think they were the ones that had the guns and one of them cranked off a round in the ER. Which brings me to my next point. I have heard a few of you say that we should not have guns. I personally agree with you and I don’t think that anyone from DPS has advocate that we get guns.

In ending this note I would like you to know that I have been a City Police Officer, a Federal Law Enforcement Officer and have also worked Security and Safety for a major Hospital chain. I have held positons of Sergeant, Liutenant and Assistant Director. So I can say with some certainty that I have the “Experience” needed to do this job. I have always advised those officers that had the desire of becoming a police officer that they should persue those dreams at an agency of their choice. So for those of you that say that we all want to be “Gun toting Police” is very unfair. The mojority of the officers here are very deticated individules just like you and just like you would like to come to work with expection of not getting hurt. I hope that we can all come to a happy resolution. Sincerely,

Giovanni Magliocchetti DPS

I worked at HMC from 2000 to 2005, with a brief re-hire in 2007. When I originally started I had no idea what the hospital was like. I was hired with about 8 new Officers and we all went through an acadamy style training, followed by several weeks of FTO training. I was told at the time that the "Old-timers" were "pieces of sh--" and not to emulate anything that they did. We came out of the academy with over zealous enthusiasm. We ran sleepers for wants and warrants, we pulled homeless people out of bushes, yanked drunks to the bus stops. The DPS environment at the time allowed Officers to make contacts off hospital properties, chase people into housing projects, dress undercover and enter into Dept. of Transportation / SPD jurisdictions. Most everyone, but ourselves, watched with open mouths and unbelieving stares. After about a year of this I realized how wrong it was and quickly changed my approach and attitude. The Medical staff would hesitate before calling us for restraints, escorts from the facility, or any other call that would require us to go hands on.
I could understand how the hospital administration would not want to give Public Safety any authorization or weapons other then what we already had (baton). It took several years for the hospital staff to trust Public Safety again, and that trust has still not been earned by HMC administration.
I agree with several Officers when they say that they need more equipment and that the hospital needs to re-define their roles and be more specific in what they want the Department to do. There is a huge gray area that is overlapping the white and black areas, making Officers hesitate before reacting to things that require immediate response. And any good Officer (HMC or Police) will tell you, hesitation will hurt you. Not to mention your partner, staff, and patients.
The training issues boggle my mind. Of all other Security firms I've observed, training doesn't go much longer then 8 hours. Harborview has training that goes 4 to 5 weeks, with classes in defensive tactics, handcuffing, slow speed driving, report writing, baton training, de-escalation techniques, and more. I can understand wanting refresher training, but to say they are under trained is a false statement. If most Officers followed their training (ie. interview stance, good distance, back up availability, radio "dead spots," and interview techniques) some of the injuries could have been avoided. I've witnessed Officers talking to subjects with arms crossed, facing the subject, legs spread. Looking and acting like a football player on the sidelines. They've approached people by kicking their legs and saying "wake up, what are you doing here?" I've heard witness state that the Officer was rude in their approach and caused the negative reaction.
In conclusion, this career is inherently dangerous. If after their 5 week academy training and 11 weeks of FTO didn't teach them that, then they didn't observe anything while they were there. Most of the injuries I saw there were due to being called to late, and having to respond to a fight, or altercation, already in progress. Even hockey refs are smart enough to know not to break up a fight until all the skaters have fallen down. My only advice to these Officers who feel unsafe; go to another security firm where you get 8 hours of training, get paid less then your $19.00 an hour, sit in a shack, and get the opportunity to help no one.

Administration is using others in this blog to find out who is posting. Beware of the request for you to name yourself. A common tactic is to anger, frustrate and annoy you into identifying yourself. Your identity is yours to do with as you wish.

Dont get it twisted, there are some DPS Officer's who do the job, dont complain, and dont check for every little thing, the sad fact is that we have to live under an old regime that at that time were wanna be "POLICE OFFICER'S," some have left and some stayed, but the mentality of staff and administration is that all DPS Officer's are wanna be "POLICE OFFICER'S", that is not the case, we all came to Harborview because we wanted to help the public and staff by maintaining a safe and secure enviorment. Again not all DPS Officer's are P***YS!!!!!!!

Thnaks a lot (Darren Wasell / former DPS Sgt.) We should all take advice from a SGT. who was fired and prosecuted for punching a patient. Anybody doing the things you mention was still hired and kept as an employee by the UW so who's to blame? If it is so safe and great at Harborview why did you leave after being rehired?

To Mr. Wasell did'nt you quit after investigated for assulting a female, and charged with assulting her. I quess all that training they gave you was to hit females or you must not have had the training you were suppose to have. You where lucky Mr. Stormo hired you back even after having a criminal record on file. The two officers that got fired where doing there job. Try explaining that.

To all you naysayers claiming the numbers are contrived or the officers are inflating them. We simply write reports and turn them in. Officers DO NOT compile them and we DO NOT post them. What is reported in our Clery crime log is supposed to be done in strict accordance to federal laws. If its not, it is not officers doing it. This isn't things we are making up. Every number you see has a report behind it.

Nobody dare say their name or they are attacked on this blog. If we aren't in 100% support of DPS, we are attacked on-line...no way I am going to say my name and then be targeted at work.

Maybe these are silly questions but...

1. If HMC doesn't want police officers but security officers at the hospital why do they keep hiring ex-police officers and ex-police chiefs to run the security department? Wouldn't they bring in a police perspective by their very nature? If the hospital wants these guys to be customer service oriented security guards,maybe they should go a different direction in who they hire and what they expect the officers to do.

2. If Harborview is owned by King County and managed by the UW, then why doesn't either King County Sheriffs or the UW Police Department provide police services at the hospital instead of Washington State Patrol? I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the last Chief retired from the State Patrol and has connections with the owner of the company (PSES) that now owns the contract for WSP to work at Harborview?

Ok, I've just read through this whole thing and I've had a variety of feelings on the subject. I am a former RN of HMC, which is also where I started my nursing career. I worked in the ER for about a year and the floor for about 2 1/2. I have always been proud to tell people of that experience. The mission to help the helpless is a wonderful one. However it does come with some downsides. The "helpless" are often homeless, alcoholic, drug addicted and/or untreated psych. These often bring a higher rate of crime and violence. I don't really know anybody who stays there, who doesn't accept this fact (even DPS officers). That being said, it isn't an excuse to sit down and accept unsafe conditions.

I have a unique perspective as a former employee and the wife of a current officer. There are a lot of things I can say and vent about, but to me that is pointless. The main point here is safety. There is probably no way to make HMC completely safe or even as safe as the private hospitals, simply because of the population served. However the officers should be allowed what they need. For the most part staff and patients are safe, not entirely but mostly. But that is largely because of the dedication of most officers. I have to agree with Darren Wasell in that the training is available. It hasn't always been the case but is now. However the officers with a large number of injuries haven't used the training provided.

As for the weapon issue, there may be a few people who want guns and commissions but that is not the majority stance. There is need for a "non-lethal" for of personal protection, which a baton is not. A baton crack on the head or many other parts of the body has serious if not deadly consequences.

One night my husband was at the metal detector on ground west at about 10pm. For those of you who don't know it's pretty secluded down there at night. My husband was threatened and cornered (due to the set up of the area) by an angry man with a knife. He did manage to radio for help thankfully and wasn't hurt. Any one who knows my husband can tell you that he is good at de-escalating people and is rarely injured. In fact he has only had 2 in more than 5 years. (Exposures are another matter entirely.) I wonder what would have happened if the radio hadn't worked, or if all other officers were up on another call and couldn't get away to help? I was also upset to find out the man who did the threatening was allowed to leave and not arrested. The baton (or ASP) was not a viable option in this case due to the proximity of the man with the knife. A taser or pepper gel would have been a great help to him.

I don't advocate just randomly handing these tools out to any person who raises their hand. They should be regulated in their use with training and evaluation of the person. Also by performing an investigation when used (similar to police officers when involved in a shooting) would encourage accountability.

As a staff member I did feel reasonably safe, but I also learned to be on my guard all the time. In the ER it was the rare night I was not called names, cursed at, swung at, kicked at, or grabbed at (sometimes in very private regions.) However I always knew I could count on DPS to be there when I called. Most of the men and women are well trained and very good at what they do, plus they enjoy the job they do. All they ask is a bit more support and safety.

One more point, the woman who walked in the hospital with the stab wound referred to above was found by an officer and brought to the ER. She most likely would have died had the officer not been checking into why she was in the lobby. They care about the people and staff in spite of what many people would have you believe.

By the way I don't want to post my name because there is a very real fear of retaliation in that department.

Pam O'Brien's additude is common among managers/directors at UW/HMC.
The comments about "Guards with guns" and "Crack & addicts" is just ignorant.
The UW as well as HMC have been punished in big ways over the last ten years because of arrogant administrators/managers and folks with advanced medical degrees. Dr Wynn's 34 million dollar medicare fraud conviction is a good example. The federal government had their way with the UW law school on that one...
The firing of the head football coach for violating "Gambling Policies" at the UW is another.
Dr Wynn, though a convicted felon took a very lovely retirement settlement back east with him from the UW..
The "fired" head football coach took 7 million plus dollars out of UW coffers as he proved in court that UW law students couldn't descern a sphincter from a hole in the ground...
Additionally engineers at the UW sued their employer for nearly 9 million dollars in Superior Court as their "Management Team" tried to renigg on a pay increase the engineers were entitled to according to contracts previously OK'd!!??
What does all this have to do with Safety & Security of HMC staff & Public Safety OFFICERS?
(Thats "OFFICERS", not "Guards"). Dig?
Well The top level administrators have made it very difficult for their lower level security managers to aquire any tenure in The Dept of Public Safety @ HMC. Eight directors in the 10 plus years I've served in the dept...
That fact is "telling" because the Associate Administrator bosses above THEM are still at HMC....
How is it that an institution like HMC/UW (for 9 years), be in violation of the Federal Clery Act ledgislation?
Why did it take HMCDPS OFFICERS to force HMC/UW administration (through the D.O.E) into compliance with this federal law?
The issues have little to do with HMCDPS. "They" are very much bigger than that.....
"Knowledge is Power
Power Corrupts" & "Absoulute Power Corrupts Absoulutely"???
They call THIS a "Teaching Hospital"/"Insitution of Higher Learning"?
Smells like a "sphincter" to me...
If Pam O'Brien doesen't like it here she can go "work" someplace else....

The staff member(s) suggesting that the crime statistic for HMC are intentionally falsified, fake or "Fluffed" and inaccurate perhaps should initiate a criminal investigation with the Dept of Education and provide proof. The falsification of public documents is a criminal act and it is HMC ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF that untimately "Edit" the crime stats for HMC in compliance with Clery Act mandates.
Get real,Bruthuh(s).

I am a current DPS Officer with several years of experience under my belt. I have worked in law enforcement and private security (both armed and unarmed). So, I can tell you for a fact Officer Miller that you ARE the best trained security agency in the area. Darren was correct in pointing out that 95% of the security agencies in the area average 8 hours of training.

How you manage to check in for injuries 6 times in 3 years is amazing. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Tom more than once: Stop thinking you can handle it by yourself and go back to your training. You had 5 weeks of academy training, ongoing refresher training (although I doubt you wanted to actually listen to the instructor) and lets not forget your field training, which was anywhere from 7-10 weeks.

Your argument that you are not well trained is ludicrous. You simply want the badge, gun and commission that you can not get anywhere else. The UW is justified, you are leaving out a few things with why you are actually on Admin Leave, but you won’t tell the general public, will you?

If you had simply called 911 and reported the incident directly to Seattle Police you might not be in the mess you currently are. No, you made a phone call to another “Agency” prior to calling 911. Also who did you call to get the photograph of the suspect?

There is more to this than meets the eye. Tyler, you have rocked the boat since you got here, nothing is ever good enough for you and you consistently complain about EVERYTHING. The worst part is that your actions have put two Sgt’s and two Lt’s livelihood at risk and for what? To push your own cause.

I have worked through this before and am becoming pretty tired of the constant battle. Tyler you can say what you want, but I see you and your actions for what they truly are.

I’m sure Tyler would love to be a cop elsewhere, but no one will pick him up because he is a liability and a boat rocker.

Yes, there are a lot of injuries, but what caused the injuries in the first place?

A prior blog said it right: Not following the training provided and not extending respect to people.

There is an inherent risk with our department. We deal with the best of families one minute and the worst psych jobs the next. But it is the mission of the facility and no matter what, people including our staff, deserves to be safe, Tyler and his minions may not be willing to provide that safety, but most of us will.

Now, while I don’t agree with Tyler and the minions, I also don’t completely agree with Administration.

There is always room for improvement and nothing is absolutely perfect. Administration needs to be willing to listen to suggestions for change.

The stats provided are not fake as others are claiming. Some of the incidents are improperly classified though. But that goes back to following your training. If Tyler gets struck during a restraint where the patient was thrashing wildly, it is a Workplace Violence incident, NOT an Assault, certainly not a crime. Maybe he and a few others need to re-read the definitions for Assault and Intent in the R.C.W.’s.

I would love to leave my name, but I trust either set, Administration or Tyler’s minions.

To the general public: the vast majority of us want only to keep you safe. Guns are absolutely not appropriate as there is too much risk for collateral damage (innocent victims). I am not a Lt or administrator in disguise and certainly not a toady of either set. I’m an Officer who is proud of what I do and where I work.

There is no ring-leader such as Tyler and no "minions" as stated above. We are a group of officers working with the union to help improve the working and safety conditions here at the hospital. If Tyler is responsible for his actions then so are the 2 Lt's and the 2 Sgt's who have seemed to target him for the past two years. There is always more to this than meets the eye. But the fact remains, all we have done is ask for help for two years and our injuries haven't been reduced. Stop the silly claims about officers not doing their job. I have never seen an officer shirk his responsibility or do anything putting a staff member in danger. Throughout this whole process officers have continued to put themselves between staff, patients and visitors and any risk posed to them. Even after management said we can refuse to go to situation if it is too dangerous, officers continue to act selflessly and out themselves at risk.

The previous post is articulate and well spoken, free from spelling/grammarical errors, And is largely accurate overall.
BUT, Tyler is not the problem of issue in this 100% Union sanctioned/endorsed exercise. HELLO. The UW wesite job description still states officers for this class code "ENFORCE LOCAL STATE, FEDERAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES", but the HMCDPS Policy Manual tells us we "are not law enforcement".
The institutions administrative (UW) "right hand" is not aware of the insitutions (HMC) administrative "left hand's actions.
The training many of us got was a result of the Department of Labor and Industries COMPELLING/FORCING HMC Administration to educate and train officers in light of their legislative class code/job description as posted on the UW website back in 00.....
Its great that you've enjoyed your service at HMC without injuries (or targeted diciplinary action, unfairly or ignorantly administered).
Tyler Miller and officers who share his sentiments are NOT the problem with what is happening here. Rank and File Officers have had to force HMC Administration through a series of complaints and whistleblower events to provide education/training/equipment to do a job that absolutely needs to be done.
When I came to HMC over 11 years ago I was told I was required to furnish my own dutybelt or web gear!!! The hospital/county/state did'nt provide it. This was at a time when there was no union or closed shop.
Time will tell if this union has the strength to effectively represent Tyler, Mike and Tom on these issues. I surely hope/pray they do.

Prov Everett is a busier ED and they have similar clientele and they are allowed to use pepper spray and tazers. Yes, there is the occasional hot head who wants to get some time with the baton and doesn't care who they take out with the spray but for the most part, they just show it and people seem to calm down.

I bet that there are maybe 2 or 3 guys that have written all of these messages. All on company time?

To believe there are only 2 or 3 guys doing this is not the truth. Many people have very strong opinions on this issue. Not just Officers.

now they are trying to control the blog...good job a little too late from king 5.

I know that this entire sitsuation is an out of control forest fire. Issues of training have been risen, a need for better defined job requirements have been discussed, a misunderstanding that DPS want guns, and an obvisous frustration with HMC administration.
The biggest problem though is the rift in the Departmet between those that agree and those that don't agree. It's to emotionally charged and people are writing things that are filled with anger, disgust, and false perceptions. They cloud judgement and reasoning.
Now, for my reason for this new blog.... I never attacked anyone personally in my other blog. I never named anyone by name. I simply told the truth from my perception, in the most logical way I could. There were no lies in my statement, no angry misleadings. But because I struck a chord some of you chose to attack me personally, brining out an assault charge against me in a blog read by Seattle residence, tax payers who will make future levee and other tax decisions about Harborview.
Yes I was charged with assaulting a patient in June of 2005. I was attempting a restraint on a assaultive patient, who at one point tried to punch me. The patient claimed assault after she sat up and I pushed her head back onto the bed. Did I do it with more force then I should have, probably (the adreneline of the moment). I said some things to the patient I regretted. I was not fired for the incident. I left mainly because I was embarassed and because I tainted the Department. There was no outside influence for my decision to leave. The patient, I think with some incouragement from one DPS Officer and Nurses, chose to call SPD and have the incident filed. Six months later I get paperwork stating that I've been charged with a misdeamnor assault. I went through the court system, did the requirements asked of me, and as of Dec 27, 2007 the incident will be expunged from my record.
Do I regret what I did to that patient, sure. Do I think about it and simulate other techniques I could have used, sure. Did I say things in anger that made the incident worse, absolutelty.
I re-hired back at HMC to get back into the UW system. The pay is better, the benefits are better, and I wanted to give my wife and children things I couldn't afford at a $12.00 an hour job. I never intended to stay at HMC apon my return. A job opportunity came up within the UW system and I jumped at it.
Finally, if you want to make this personal, go ahead. There is no way that this problem with HMC is going to be solved without hurt feelings and unforgiveable statements. Do I believe that most everyone at HMC/DPS is good intentioned, Yes. Do I think they make good decisions under difficult conditions, Yes. Are all of them conducting themselves in unsafe practices, No. But some are.
In the end, I believe the ones who suffer the most over this heated debate are the Officers there who do great work everyday, help countless people with humbleness and humility, and are forced to be looked down on by Officers on pedestals.
For any misspellings, I appologize...Darren...

This same group of "disgruntled officers who want to be commissioned and carry guns" has also:

1. Pressured management into keeping their promise to Ron Sims to remove us from the police type uniforms.

2. Pressured management into removing the emergency lights that were once on our vehicles.

3. Showed management the errors of issuing commission cards to every officer and had them removed for clarity's sake.

4. Shown management contradictions in our policies that would appear to indicate any enforcement obligation or law enforcement duties and had them removed.

5. Pressured management into removing police type job descriptions from our job duties.

6. Pressured management into removing the words "enforce laws" from any job description.

7. Convinced management to halt officers from performing duties or job action which could be construed as police work.

8. Convinced management to halt officers in issuing Criminal Trespass Admonishments which is a police function.

9. Convinced management to have officers discontinue the practice of holding and/or seizing any weapons which we had no right to do because we are not police officers.

10. Worked to cease any duties which may violate someones's civil rights as we are not commisssioned police officers.

11. Locked management into the position that as DPS Officers we have no duty to act because we are not police.

12. Pressured management to discontinue the practice of DPS Officers enforcing any type of court order as we are not police or agents of the court.

13. Pressured management to discontinue the practice of DPS Officers enforcing any type of CPS holds as we are not police or agents of the court.

14. Have tried but not succeeded in having management pick a single role for security officers here at HMC and follow the model in place at UWMC, instead of the pseudo-police/security role we now perform. We have continuously asked them to pick one or the other, but not both, and they will not do this.

15. Made sure officers are not taking on the role of police in acting certain ways and tried to clarify our duties and responsibilties as simple security officers by working with management.

16. Officers contacted Labor and Industries to have them push HMC/DPS into removing any police type descriptions from our job duties or incur fines for violations.

17. Contacted a variety of government agencies from the King County Council, to local and state politicians, to personal letters to the UW President, to the federal government, to the KC Sheriff, asking for help.

18. Pressured management into issuing orders for DPS to cease and desist in the practice of detaining and/or handcuffing people who commit crimes as we are not police.

It would seem this group of officers is working very hard to be police, huh?

I think you should all go work at McDonalds. It sounds like you don't want to do anything but have it your way.

Two things, first the above list is misrepresented badly. In all cases the motivation behind the pressure placed on management was an attempt to bluff, coerce and force management to give those commissions. That obviously backfired, and now they want to make it look as if this was their goal all along. Contacting L&I is again an attempt to force commissions. I may not work there anymore but I do still talk to a few officers quite a bit. I think the goal of better safety is a great one, however the methods used have all but guaranteed the administration would dig in their heels and say "never". Perhaps a more collaborative approach would have worked better?

Second, while working in the ED I had a very intoxicated female attempt to pull her pants down in the middle of the hallway, because we would not remove her one arm and one leg from the restraints. (She was attempting to leave and by being intoxicated we were therefore responsible for whatever would happen if she did. It is often necessary to keep intoxicated or psych people there for their own safety.) When I attempted to stop this, she sat up and tried to bite my arm. When I felt teeth I immediately pulled back, preventing an actual bite. I decided to press an assault charge, one of only two times in my career. This woman was picked up and taken out in handcuffs when sober, but I never heard another thing about it. Apparently charges weren't even filed. So a so called felony assault on a health care worker just doing their job to the best of their ability isn't worth following up on. Yet an officer doing his job "assaults" a patient who is attempting to hurt others and he is charged. The only other time I pressed charges was in Pierce County and the person was sentenced to 1 year with DOC. I guess in order for charges to be filed I would have had to move slower and allow her to bite me.

Speaking of which, if I, only a nurse with no defensive or tactical training can move fast enough and read people well enough to avoid injuries, why can't some of these officers? You may say that I have the ability to step away, but I didn't until other officers arrived. I would often stay to help until it was safe to step away (or I was directed away by other officers, as I said before I'm not trained in this sort of thing). I was injured once, that left a bruise, and learned to move faster after that.

I now work for county jail and frequently deal with the worst of what I saw at HMC, and many other very drunk or high individuals as well as psych and homeless people or all of the above. But I feel safer now than I ever did at HMC, which is no reflection on the security officers but a fact.

Some of this may not seem relevant, and maybe I just vented in a couple spots. However it comes down to the safety of all.

I hope the issue of safety is resolved to the best of everyone's ability. Please don't lose the focus because of insults and half truths, by all sides. HMC is a great place with a lot of dedicated people and serves a great under served mission. Everybody there is part of a large team and must work together, from administration down. I'm saddened by a lot of what I see.

"A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand"

Abraham Lincoln, June 1858.

A most appropriate quote for the situation.

Umm, you have it your way at Burger King not McDonalds.

I know of many people who have spent a lot of time at HMC (EMTs, police officers, etc.) and EVERY SINGLE ONE has described HMC as a dangerous place. Fights are a daily occurence, drug addicts are plentiful, the violently mentally ill are always there and gang members and other criminals are regulars as well. You could liken many of the patients to the type of people you would encounter at the King County Jail. Often these "patients" are former or soon to be inmates.

As a former hospital security officer and current police officer, I feel confident in saying that these Public Safety Officers are encountering many of the same situations that a police officer encounters on patrol (domestic violence, assaults, burglaries, car prowls, theft, etc.). The difference is a police officer has a lot of training, and both lethal and non-lethal weapons at their disposal. Police are also allowed to use reasonable force to protect themselves and others without much fear of losing their job. Not allowing the PSOs to have tasers and pepper spray (not talking about guns here), as well as more training, is ignorant and a tragedy waiting to happen. Having worked for a hospital, I know that politics and image are paramount. Patient safety is spoken of a lot but never addressed properly. If something does happen, it is swept under the rug.

I also know that the healthcare mentality provides a safe haven for criminals. While working hospital security I witnessed or heard first hand of situations where a crime was commited by a patient (drug possession, felony malicious mischief) and the hospital would not release the patient's name (we're not talking about medical condition or anything covered by HIPAA here) to police or even security. In some regards, hospital policies often endanger the community they are trying to care for.

It's not just the PSOs safety at stake here, but the staff and patients as well. Unfortunately, it will probably take a tragedy and a lawsuit before HMC addresses this issue properly.

By the way, did someone actually say that Providence in Everett has a busier ED than Harborview and the same clientel? Saying Prov is busier than Harborview is like saying Baghdad is safer than Paris. And the clientel is NOT the same. I've been to both and Providence is nothing compared to HMC. Get a clue.

Violence in hospital emergency rooms is a dirty not-so-little secret in other places besides Harborview. At least Harborview has a security staff. In some local ERs, it's the nurses who are regularly threatened, cursed at, spit upon, shoved, and struck by drunks, drug abusers, sadistic criminals, and the mentally ill. Male nurses bear the brunt of the abuse, taking on the extra responsibility, risk, and legal liability of security duty, with no defensive weapons, no training, no extra pay, no recognition, no appreciation, and no help from management.

Prov Everett had the busiest ER in WA for patient visits the past two years.

PS) Have you worked at Prov or been there? I've worked at both ERs.

lets not get into a comparison of E.D.'s. Prov Ev may be the busiest by numbers, however the acuity level of HMC patients is far higher. Violence is a way of life at ANY E.D. regardless of size or location, it's just the way it goes. Getting into arguments over how busy one is over the other is ridiculous. Thank you for your comments Eve, not all of us are stubborn.

What is the main issue that keeps getting lost in the blog?
Officers want
1. Better, consistent and useful training.
2. Authority to use the training that they get
3. Equipment that is functional for the environment they work in
4. Management that does not target staff for termination for simply not agreeing with them.

Management wants
1. For this to go away.

Note: Management refused to speak with officers about the issues even though they signed a document during the last contract negotiation stating they would.
They spoke loud and clear to the news last Friday. They never intended on talking with them about the issues.

I wanted to provide some factual information about some of the claims you have heard on here in the blog and in news reports. What we see is a claim the hospital is safe based only on the statements from management of; “passed safety inspections and consultant reviews”.

1) There have been three complaints filed with Labor and Industries. The first one was filed in 2001 and commenced in 2002. Harborview did not pass this inspection! This can be verified by contacting L&I.

2) The second complaint was filed in 2005. Harborview did not pass this inspection either and was cited by Labor and Industries. This can be verified by contacting L&I.

3) In 2007 the third complaint was finished. What Harborview doesn’t share with the people in the press is there was a big problem with this investigation. The L&I investigator assigned was forced to go on medical leave for a serious health condition. She had spent countless hours interviewing officers, shadowing at the medical center and reviewing incident reports. I was the point of contact for her throughout the investigation and she shared with me on several occasions how frustrated she was with Harborview, as she felt they were hiding a lot and would not give her access to a lot of needed material she had to review to have a complete inspection. Unfortunately, the medical leave lasted longer than the investigator had anticipated. L&I is bound by the law that says when L&I must have the investigation finished. So, L&I assigned a new investigator who never talked to a single officer, only managers. Nor did this new investigator ever communicate with the first investigator to talk with her about her findings. In the end, L&I made it clear they were on a time crunch (two days from the deadline) and had to finish in a hurry. The only way to have this 2007 complaint fairly investigated was to file an appeal and new complaint so a fair and factual investigation can be done. The United States Department of Labor /OSHA are also monitoring this appeal now.

The fact of the matter is, since the 2001 inspection and the 2005 inspection where citations were issued and Harborview did not “pass” the inspections, the crime rate has not dropped, the way the department operates has not significantly changed in a way to impact safety or crime and therefore it is nearly impossible to say that L&I won’t cite again in 2007 (nothing has really changed!). Further, I know the first assigned investigator for the 2007 investigation was, indeed appalled by what she found and anticipated issuing citations on a number of matters. Viewers should know that L&I is also very limited in what they have jurisdiction to investigate and can demand change in. L&I issuing a finding of no citations does not mean everything relating to safety is harmonious! Look into for yourself, call L&I or look into the laws that govern L&I!

SAFETY CONSULTATIONS AND REVIEWS PAID FOR BY UW/HMC:

1) In 2002, HMC paid the Taylor Group to provide training and a program review for the security operations of HMC. The union has multiple emails between the Taylor Group and the L&I investigator. These emails go into detail about how the officers are lacking in training and tools for the environment and the job that is being expected. Email hsosa (address is on the website) and I’m sure a hsosa rep will provide those original emails to anyone who would like to investigate who is being truthful. So, again it would be untruthful to say Harborview “passed” this consultant’s review!

2) In 2006/2007 HMC administration hired Clearance Birkhead, a police chief from Hillsborough NC. Interesting part about this is Mr. Birkhead was the police chief for Duke University when Mindy Kornberg was Duke’s HR Vice President. Ms. Kornberg has been the HR Vice President at UW for several years now. If you read the report from Mr. Birkhead, you will see Mr. Birkhead recommends the implementation of an additional police officer (at least two, total). Mr. Birkhead’s report also recommends major changes in the Policy and Procedure manual the officers operate from. Mr. Birkhead, himself also recommends TRAINING! Yes folks, he recommended training. In Mr. Birkhead’s conclusion of his report, even after recommending the changes I cited above, he does include that he believes HMC is safe on the bases that no “murders” or “major crime” has occurred. He cites there have been no rapes either, but that is inaccurate as anyone can see from the statistics. Yes, people have been raped at HMC as well!

Has HMC followed the recommendations? No, HMC has no implemented anther law enforcement officer (two off duty officers would cost the community nearly $850,000). Have any of the polices been changed or clarified.. To date No! Has HMC provided training since the report? HMC has given selective training; “verbal de-escalation training”. With that, there is always times when verbal communication is not going to work. The officers need to know what to do and be able to handle situations that are beyond verbal intervention and that is obviously a large need considering HMC’s violence statistics. In the vast majority of situations, officers get called from medical staff AFTER verbal intervention and de-escalation by trained medical staff and social workers has not worked. So are the HMC DPS officers suppose to come and start the de-escalation “talk” again after it’s already failed? Don’t me wrong, officers always attempt verbal communication before anything physical and in a lot of cases are successful. Truth be told, HMC stats would be so much higher is officers didn’t use verbal de-escalation. The crime and violence is too high! The current statistics include the numbers for what is happening when the de-escalation is obviously not working!

Don’t take our word for it if you don’t’ want to. Look at other LIKE MEDICAL CENTERS and see what they are doing. If you compare UNIVERSITY and COUNTY HOSPITAL and LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS in the areas closest to us, you will find they have a much better way of providing safety and security to their communities (patients, visitors, staff, etc). OHSU in Portland Oregon is the closest LIKE medical center. The next closest LIKE medical centers are California. So go and o the research so you can see for yourself who is correct in their security opinions. Then also compare those medical center’s statistics with ours and you will find HMC is FAILING in providing a good, comparable public safety program. Don’t compare hospitals that aren’t “LIKE” medical centers, as it is not fair to do so! Even Duke University where our most recent consultant came from has a level one trauma center and a different public safety program, that is working!

The other claim from management is how they added a WSP Trooper. Scrutinize this closely. You hear management say the officers don’t need anything additional and additional equipment is not needed but yet they go and add an armed with a gun trooper? Then there is a recommendation for a second law enforcement officer? The other part of it security officers are still first responding to ALL calls. So let’s see, let’s think about this. We will send our under trained unequipped officers to the call first who have no means of defensive equipment to get hurt and when they get hurt, the person with the equipment and training and come in and safe the day? Can you say backwards and ill!!!?? We are thankful to have one WSP trooper, as it does help. But the question remains is this an effective use of resources, efficient, and a good use of state money? NO! One or even two troopers is still under staffing in that capacity. The other problem is it’s a new trooper almost every day, two times a day. This means they have no real orientation with the geography of the hospital and don’t know how to get around. This isn’t their primary job! They are good people! It just doesn’t make sense.

We also read from one blog poster that officers get hurt because of the way they approach people and their “officer safety practices”. Well, this is a perfect example of the failure of part of the training program. It’s called Field Training Officers and the Training Program not evaluating and addressing those concerns and ON GOING TRAINING in addressing those concerns. Obviously, if they are legitimate concerns with officers not using trained techniques; don’t you think there should be corrective measures to deal with it (corrective training, etc)?

Also, management’s claim of verbal assaults being counted into the assaults statistics is completely false. People, you need know it has to fit the state law definition as assault or theft or any other classification to be counted as such on a FEDERAL REQUIRED CRIME REPORT (CLERY ACT) Give me a break! There is obviously no true to defense for HMC administration!

And by the way, if you are doing something illegal, immoral or unethical and not watching out for the community and staff, then yes, as PM claimed in his previous post, I am a "liability", as I will tell the truth and that creates liability for those that are not! I have integrity in doing the right thing for the people I serve and doing it in the best way possible. I believe in bettering programs and constant securitizing on behalf of the people we serve and the people who ultimately pay our wages. I’m not in this for personal gain like administration personally making hundreds of thousands, annually.

Administration is not being truthful and forthcoming. So, I have provided these hints as to where you can find out facts for yourself and generate your own conclusion on the safety of the Harborview Medical Center.

To Pam O 'Brien: If Harborview is so safe, why do you and your boss Robert Hamilton sit in an office behind a locked door 24/7 instead of an office you can secure each night as you leave?

Lets clear up statements 1-18 posted on Sept 1:

#1.) The “Police” type uniforms are worn by several private security agencies, by Swedish Medical Center Security and at the time, UW Tacoma Security. Yet this “Police” type uniform is not worn by Seattle Police Department. For those that don’t know, the Police type uniform was a dark navy blue shirt and pants, commonly referred to as “L.A.P.D. Blue.” 95% of Officers were against this change. This uniform was clean and presented an image of professionalism and pride, which we no longer have.

It’s the person inside the uniform by the way Tyler, not the uniform that makes the man. The very people that fought for this change, also denied pushing for this to its own union members, basically lying to us. They repeatedly told Officers that they simply pointed out the letter from Ron Sims (by the way, the letter posted on hsosa.org says nothing about a direct order from Ron Sims or Sheriff Rahr about changing the uniform, merely asking about it). Yet now, Tyler and the crew are taking credit for forcing the change, nice time to tell the truth guys.

#2) What was the justification for removal of the lights again? Oh yeah, we’re not police…..wait, several security agencies commonly run with red lights on their cars. Granted most of them are in conjunction with yellow lights, but lets look at our most common counterparts.

UW Tacoma: 96 Chevrolet Caprice, fully marked with all red strobe lightbar and siren.
UW Bothell: Chevrolet Lumina, fully marked with all red light bar and siren
Us: Fully marked Explorers with yellow light in front and siren..

Be sure to ask Tyler and those that negotiated the labor management meetings about the changes.

#’s 4,5,6) are all directly related. Nice try on making the blog longer though.

By the way, the state job description for Campus Security Officer has not changed and remains the same, so what’s the difference?

#7) If you did your job right, you didn’t act like police and were smart enough to know when to call P.D.

#8) Explain how this is a police only function?

I worked many years in private security and never called the police to issue a Trespass to someone. Quite the contrary, as agents of this facility we have every right to issue Trespass cards to people who have broken HMC rules or state law.

#9) I don’t know about you, but my Department Policy clearly says that we will continue to hold / safekeep weapons. Now I will not argue the point about confiscating weapons, which means that the owner does NOT get the item back because it’s illegal by law.

#10) Which duties violated someone’s civil rights? Asking them what they are doing in the building at 2 in the morning? Doing a pat down search for weapons? Handcuffing a subject with a known history of unprovoked assaults against Officers? Detaining people for suspected criminal activity?
Maybe we should stop giving people directions too, they may get lost and get hurt, we’d be responsible, maybe we should stand by while a nurse is getting pummeled in the E.D. by an O.O.C. patient, we don’t want to violate the patients civil rights, he’s just expressing his discontent. (Tyler is an active advocate for the standing by)

#11) I’ve never been directly ordered to do something that I know was blatantly wrong. You talk about wanting nothing but safety, yet you actively encourage Officers to standby and refuse to assist in the case of an in progress assault, saying, “We have no duty to act.” If you are so afraid to help others and do your job, go elsewhere….there is a single simple word for this…..”Cowardice.”

#12, 13) Again both of these apply to the same bullet point, not two separate ones. Now, What court order have you enforced? I’ve never been instructed to or asked to enforce any court order. There is a difference between ENFORCING a court order, i.e. subpoena, CPS hold, restraining order and standing by while one is served. There is also a difference between cuffing someone for violating one and detaining someone for a few minutes for clarification.

#14) That’s because the UWMC model WILL NEVER work at HMC. Give it up, if that’s what you want, go work for Mr. Walls over there. He’s an excellent director (would love to have the man back) and you get paid more…..plus you won’t have to worry about getting hurt as much.

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!”

#15) Already stated this, just in different words.
#16) Again, already stated this, just in different words

#17) and created Dismay and discontentment throughout the department. You have turned Officer against Officer and have put the livelihood of every one of us in jeoparody…..Thanks guys appreciate the cause.
#18) Since when? Policy states that we can still cuff up for safety of staff and or Officers. I have no problem using mine and won’t hesitate if it ensures that I can go home at night.

This group of Officers fails to note that all of these “Accomplishments” were not intended results. The “Labor Management Team” never believed the changes would be carried out. It was a push to get law enforcement commissions and HMC called their bluff and changed them.

Although they will never admit it. After all, it’s all about safety.

Why is the union so actively supporting us now?

Where were they when we didn’t get the 12.5 % pay increase, that non union members received?

Where were they 3 or 4 years ago when the violence and assaults were significantly higher. By the way I mean legitimate assaults, not most of what you call assaults Tyler.

Where was it when a mini riot broke out at 1NE in 2001?

Where was it when someone blew their head off with a .357 magnum in a bathroom on 2002? No safety concerns at that time right?

Were they there for Seagraves? No,
Were they there for Jarvis? No
How about the Fab 5? No

You may think what you want, but they aren’t in anything in the long run, whether you’re in the right or wrong.

For the record, Mike you got a raw deal. Tom, you got screwed,

Tyler; well, you are a man that can not live without conflict in your life. Not all of us like conflict and would do just fine without it.

What also has not been told is that this all started over the UW not giving Officers a well deserved 12.5% pay increase (mentioned above).

This isn't the forum to address those types of union matters. What I will say is your shop stewards always have to activate union actions through an established process set forth by the big (father union). No officer/shop steward in the past was filing complaints properly. The union staff cannot just arbitrarily start processes without the members being complainants and the shop stewards to leg work. A lot of officers have a real big miss conception about what has to happen for the union to take official action and to do so legally. What all officers need to grasp right now is YOU ARE THE UNION. I do understand your concerns though. It’s an education issue really in getting everyone to understand how the process works. Hope that helps.

UW Management did screw the officers out of a well deserved (Statewide) 12.5% pay raise. That may have been the straw that broke the camels back, But to say safety concerns started over that is ludacris. I been with the department for many years, and safety concerns have always been mentioned.

As far as dismay and discontent, that has been there since I've worked in this department. Much of that is due to the stressful work enviornment. Not only dealing with soo many violent/threatening individuals, but having command staff (MOST of them -Current and Past) that do not properly support the officers performing the dangerous job. Over the years (regardless of which command staff was there), low staffing, favortism, poor communication, unbalanced enforcement of department polices, improper promotions, unfair targeting of those who disagreed with management was rampid. All of this has been present with every command staff I have worked for. I'm not sure how much of this is necessarly the command staff's fault or the fault of there bosses, but regardless it was there.

There are many different opinions in this blog. But would it really be that hard for the UW to revamp their SOP, write better policies, offer useful and ongoing training that is supported by policy and management (even many of the negative blogs state some officers are inexperienced and/or use some of there training improperly) and pay the officers for the dangerous work conditions and very real possibility of injury and assault. Even UW's own consultant stated much of the above is lacking.

The person who is so negative towards Tyler in this blog (Tired DPS and now recently HMC DPS) is a person who is just about to retire, has a pension to think about and is buddy-buddy with management. He has a right to his own opinion on these matters and I will not name him.
You know who you are. So whatever you have against Tyler is your problem. These people are focused on doing good and you seem to be riding the fence.
YOU were the one that management targeted; remember being called out of your name N-word ring a bell? Remember not wanting to come to work? The people that were left the very ones that you talk ill of were the ones that backed you. Now that your buddy is the assistant chief and you are protected, you are helping management target others. Shame on you!
Quit being ignorant.

"G" you should really stop assuming things you really don't know. Take a minute to break the word ass/u/me down.

I am NOT near retirement, I am not anywhere near buddy-buddy with management.
I am NOT who you think I am and I am nowhere near Ignorant.

Ignorant would be making poor assumptions which you have just done, try not to insult those who have said nothing to this point.

So the shame belongs to you, not to me. I believe that you owe an apologize to the person you were referring to. I believe you owe the man that much, as he has earned his opinion, taken the hits for this department and seen a far more violent HMC than we will ever see.

Last time I checked I am entitled to my opinion just like you, I don't apologize for the disagreement, so deal with it.

I have stated my opinion and have obviously ruffled some feathers. Deal with it.

Tyler's actions are wrong and so is Administrations, including the three upstairs that are obviously way in over their heads.

Can you guys explain what you mean and provide facts and where we can see them rather than just making statements like Tyler is wrong or administration is wrong, that doesn't mean anything to a lot of people unless we can see it.
So far, what looks to be the most factual information that can be proved through materials is the officer’s stand point. I don’t think they should be ashamed for caring so much! They should be proud of themselves for being brave enough to present such a significant issue that affects thousands. The bigger question now is, will administration make changes for the safety of everyone. If other medical centers have police and different security programs that are working, I don’t see where the Harborview administration can dispute claims of needed improvement and step their program to a different type that is used by other medical centers that do the same thing.

Basics:

Ask yourslf this, Why is it so difficult to provide at least decent refresher training yearly? Why wait 3 or more years for new Defensive Tactics training? Why not get Stress Management training? Why will Management not provide this quick easy training? But come hell or high water there is always the Sexual Discrimination classes!

Officers are provided with a baton and told that they must do what is necessary to defend themselves.

One officer gets his finger bent to the breaking point. Strikes the ASSAILANT (Patient or otherwise it doesn't matter) to keep their finger from getting broken and ...BAM fired.

One officer is choked and punched in the face. To the point that a non-dps staffer had to step in to save his life. He is told that he should have run away. That the ASSAILANT was trying to leave. Trying so hard in fact that he just could not help stopping and choking the life out of the officer. The officer tries a last ditch attempt to save himself by striking the man on the leg with his baton as he was trained to do. Result? BAM fired.

A third officer calles SPD to report an assault as officers had done for years and YEARS! Result? Admin leave pending termination.

What do these officers have in common? All three were shop stewards. All three were vocal about the unsafe issues and injuries. All three were (or are being) fired.

So Tired DPS/HMC Staff. How safe does that leave you? Mabey these officers disagreed with you. But they all did their jobs. There are no cowards among them. In fact the opposite. They stood up for their/YOUR rights and the safety of the people at the Hospital despite the dangers. And now they have paid for that with their jobs.

So Talk bad about Mike, Tom and Tyler.

Call them cowards. Hide behind whatever you need to hide behind.

The rest of you, Look into the facts. They are there. Call Labor and Industries, see what they have to say. Research other Level 1 trauma centers, see their numbers compared to Harborviews.

As one poster wrote, you or your family may, probably WILL, need to come here one day. This is in a very real and profound sense YOUR hospital. Don't let it kill someone when it is so clearly meant as a place of healing.

#1, Mike and Tom were terminated for the wrong reasons, period. I've worked with all three mentioned and you're right.

However, there were discliplinary histories with both, that CAN NOT be denied. There were far better choices than to fire them and I wish they could come back.

I am not calling Mike or Tom cowards, rather the opposite, they reacted appropriately and were terminated....that is wrong on the part of the UW.

If you are offended by the term "Cowardice" then so be it, Deal with it. It only applies to those who are willing to stand by and let a nurse or visitor get pummeled because it's "Unsafe."

#2, Tyler did not just call Seattle Police, there was a call made prior to 911, however that is not being mentioned publicly, now is it? I believe that that first call was the mistake plus he has yet to answer how he got the photograph of the suspect. There were mistakes made in this incident as well as in the report itself.

You should not talk if you don't know the facts either. Mike and Tom ONLY had disciplinary histories, because Management has targeted them for long periods. Mike for almost five years. Many officers had made mistakes (been late, gotten injured, had complaints by an angry visitor staff asked DPS to escort out, etc.), yet they have not been held to the standard that Mike, Tom and Tyler have been held to. Maybe you can explain why?

Please name one time and officer has stood-by and watched a staff member (or anyone for that matter) get assaulted. We've asked for changes for years and I don't know of one time an officer has watched anyone get assaulted or not placed themselves in danger to protect them. So anyone you has used the term coward or cowardice should wake up.

Regardless of the UW/HMC not address the safety issues or officers being upset over not getting any raise, officers have still gone above and beyond.

Well here lies a big part of your problems, you guys just cant get over your personal issues.

Why dont you focus on the issues present in the news report that originated this blog. Yea, I know the things your arguing about are on the peripheal, but your loosing sight of the central issue. Safety right?

Everyone has an interest in public safety, not the department of, but rather the providing of a safe enviornment for the public.

You have ALL made a choice to work at Harborview, DPS Officer, Staff, RN, etc... However, the people you serve, patients and visitors, by and large have not made that choice, they ended up there through some tramatic event, given illness or car accident. Remember they have a RIGHT to be afforded the best possible security while at HMC, and I'm not just talking about inside the walls of the building.

We all saw a video clip on the news report of someone being brutally beaten at one of the hospital entrances. What happened in that incident? Was the victim a worker, patient, visitor? Was he seriously hurt? Did anyone respond to the assault? Obviously security was activly watching this on the camera, you can see the camera pan.

I think we are losing the focus of the blog. If Tyler is going to get attacked then I should also be. I have been to the Labor management meetings, I have also been part of the union meetings. I have never asked to carry a gun or be a cop, what I have been asking for is clear policies, training, and the right equipment to do the job. The one thing that has been the biggest problem is communication, until that happens we will never get anywhere.

So Tyler, tell us who you called before 911? Tell us about this or as far as I am concerned, you are a fraud and only using this as a venue to get out of trouble and to change the focus to HMC administration and their lack of caring. There are always two sides of a story, and as usual, we never hear both sides, we only hear the one you want us to hear to make your story look the best. Prove us wrong!

In the years that I have worked in the ED at HMC I have realized many things; only two I will speak of in effort to keep this short. First and for most, there is no other place I want to work. Yes I have been spit on, hit, kicked, had urine thrown at me, pushed, cursed at, threatened, and been jumped on at one point or another, but that is the nature of the ED – it is the nature of the patients that make Harborview, Harborview. Why do we stay? I believe others, like me are drawn to the fluid-like team that is the ED. When a sick patient (physically or mentally) arrives - our Docs, RN, MA's, Reg, DPS, and other staff mend together like closely-knit team, it is amazing and breathtaking. I love it.
Second, if DPS was ever removed from the ED or replaced by an outsourcing security, I would be forced to leave the ED that I love so much. DPS IS the reason I feel safe, because I know that when I pull the panic button or a call goes over-head that they will come and help. In a “Show of Support” medical staff is involved, but mostly to try to defuse the patient and then monitor the patient, while it is DPS that is mostly hands-on - To think of them not being a part of this frightens me. If it training they need, get it. If it means researching non-lethal resources, look in to it. I personally think that pepper gel is safer the hitting someone with a baton, which as a side note in my years in the ED I have never personally seen any of the officers use on anyone.

Quite simply I think that HMC & DPS both need to work together (seriously) to preserve our ED and the way we are able to make the impossible possible. Without our staff including our DPS officers, I would not be able to perform in my passion, which is parallel with Harborview’s mission. I hope that some type of end can be reached that makes both sides happy and we can all continue to be proud members of that fluid team I love so much.

I also was drawn to the "fluid-like team" described above. It is truly amazing to experience. It is one of the reasons why I loved working at HMC as well.

People who choose to voice their concerns about the state of care at HMC, whether it's RN's concerned about staffing levels, doctors doing an informational picket for an issue that concerns them or security officers raising concerns about safety, do it not because they don't like working at HMC, but because they LOVE working at HMC and want to see the level of care improved.

People who don't like working at HMC usually do leave and find work elsewhere. I have known of many RN's, registration clerks and security officers who have left for employment elsewhere. In DPS alone, which has 35 officers, about 40 people have left in the last 6 years.

I'm greatly encouraged by the positive posts like the one from ED Staff Member above. If we work together to offer positive suggestions to improve safety at HMC, the entire community will benefit. (Any workplace where you can say, "Yah, I get urine thrown on me" has room for improvement).

Harborview is a very important institution not only in Seattle, but also for communities in Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. We owe it to everyone who relies on the services of Harborview to provide not only excellent medical care, but the safest environment possible.

For the DPS officer above trying and failing to clear up 1-18 above you are mistaken about a few things.

1. Our present uniform is now the soft version with the cloth badge and not the hard metal LAPD badge we used to wear. All of our jackets and some of our new shirts say SECURITY on the back to reflect our role.

Obviously you did not read the letters. Yes, the first one does "ask" about changing the uniforms, but the second says "simple actions were identified such as changing the officer's uniforms from standard city police uniforms...would assist in clarifying the officer's role". You are right it is the person in the uniform, but you say on one hand the old uniform gave us pride and the new one doesn't so you cannot have it both ways.
What we did was to have them do what they told the County Exec they were going to do. It isn't a matter of 95% didn't support it and HMC could have fought the issue if they wanted to but they readily agreed to it with us. We always told people where the idea came from. It is management who said it was the union's idea.

2. When asked about the red lights on the cars, Chief Stormo, former state trooper, put a memo out saying they would be removed because, "every time we go on the road with them we are breaking the law." Yellow lights are not considered emergency equipment and are not prohibited. UW Bothell, UW Tacoma and BCC can all have emergency lighting because they are closed campuses and not routinely expected to drive those vehicles on public roads and city streets. That is why they can have them and why we cannot.

4,5,and 6 are different issues, related maybe but not the same. Our SOP's were filled with policies about DPS enforcing rules and arresting people. These were mostly removed after our meetings and after fines from L and I. A job description is not the same thing as a department policy. Human Resources, the Attorney General and Chief Stormo agreed with us because they said all statements about enforcing laws and making arrest would be removed. Also, because of our meetings Chief Stormo wrote up a brand new job description and announcement for HMC. The state job description has to be general and is not specific to Harborview.

7. Traffic stops, confiscating drugs and drug paraphernalia, "arresting people", running warrants, detaining anyone with a valid CTA, detaining people for weapon's violations, just to name a few-those were things we used to do but now we don't.

8. If it is ok for us to issue CTA's then why did they have us stop? They could have said it was fine and continue the practice. Now we fill out the card but its the trooper who is supposed to sign it and explain it to the person. Ask yourself why the number of CTA's has decreased so dramatically in the last two years? It is not because there are less trespassers, we still see those same people every day.

9. Chief Stormo put out memo saying we don't hold weapons any longer. If it is legal they keep it (except guns), if it is illegal they have to remove it from the building. UW policy allows people to bring in pocket knives and pepper spray. The signs on the doors to HMC about the WAC rules regarding weapons does not apply to simple pocket knives. It applies specifically to dangerous weapons which have their own legal meaning.

10. Our new policy says we cannot hold someone or we could be illegally detaining them. Look under the new "jurisdiction/authority" heading. This came from an Attorney General's memo. Police do pat-down searches not security officers. You cannot simply handcuff someone because of past history, there has to be other circumstances that you can articulate or else you could be violating their rights. Read our policy it says, "DPS are not police and do not detain people."

11. Police have a duty to act by law, we don't. These are the words of the Attorney Genral. Stop with your nonsense about not acting. No officer has ever been told or encouraged to stand by and refuse to assist against violent people, no officer has ever stood by and allowed someone to be injured and no one has been injured because an officer refused to act. Every single officer has continued to put themselves in violent, confrontational situations.

12, 13. We have been called to enforce court orders and to take custody of people said to have violated them even though we have no way to check or verify them because we are not police. If you detain someone to "clarify" a court order you are breaking policy and could be violating their rights. With court orders and CPS orders we were told by management we are to simply stand by and make sure everyone is safe, not take anyone into custody.

14. That is an assumption on your part. Maybe UW's model won't work here but what we are doing isn't working so well now. Why can't HMC be willing to try something different? HMC is different than UW or almost anywhere else which means the job of a security guard here entails much more than anywhere else. This is why we need more equipment, more training, clearly defined policies and good leadership.

15. Remember the Fab 5? They acted like police, we have tried to completely back away from that and have management set our parameters instead of taking them on ourselves.

16. Wrong again, L and I fined HMC because the written policies did not accurately reflect the job we were expected to do. L and I told HMC they had to remove any references to enforcing laws and arresting people from our SOP. Just for your knowledge, L and I cannot force HMC to make us cops or give tasers or give us pepper spray, nor can they make HMC hire more officers.

17. Sorry to spread discontent by asking for help and a safe work environment. As I recall we repeatedly asked for help and finally wrote a letter to the UW President that was signed by almost every single officer. The livelihood of officers is not at stake-they tell you that to scare you. Our department is not going away, period.

18. Read 3.2 where it talks about cuffing. It say we don't handcuff except in rare occassions. It says we don't do it to arrest or detain but we do it to turn someone over to police. Does that make sense? In one sentence it both allows and prohibits you from doing something for the exact same reason.

You are right accomplishments aren't results. Accomplishments are what you have achieved, results are the consequences. The consequences are that our injury rate has still not dropped significantly and the crime rate still hasn't gone down. We told them we didn't believe this would work and it hasn't but not because we haven't tried. You shold look at all the things HMC said they would do after the meetings that they still haven't done. All the training they agreed to with Mr. Birkhead they had already agreed to with the union.

For the last time, we never told them we have to be commissioned and we never told them we need or want guns, period. I am not sure how HMC called our bluff and changed them. Our message has been consistent all along.

I will say it again, NO officer has been told to stand aside and NO officer has stood aside and allowed anyone to be injured. If you are looking to place blame you should look to the hospital. In firing Tom Coonradt, part of the reasoning they gave was that he had several opportunities to disengage but didn't. That means they are setting the precedent that they expect you to run away from violent situations. However, look the training Vicki Stormo gave the last academy class. One of her Power Point slides says our job is to control combative individuals. Its hard to do that when you are disengaging from them.

Thank you. I agree people/officers have been getting off point with the blog entries. I really want to tell you that all officers agree on the way things were brought to light. The truth is there are a few that do not.
As for personal issues, they should never have had a place here on the blog and take away from the goal of the officers. Some have made it personal and these people will fade. The message is strong “make Harborview a safer environment for all Patients, staff and visitors.”
The explanation of the department’s inner workings has direct connection to an understanding of its effectiveness. Example: the night the man was attacked outside the south entry doors of HMC only a few officers were staffed, (below minimum) therefore officers were not close enough to respond to stop the attack. Staffing per shift is below what was agreed to in the contract between management and the Union. The man was beaten by several men that came from the Seattle Housing Authority area called Yesler Terrace. He was robbed then picked up by a vehicle that was driving by and left on the E.R. ramp that is on the north side of HMC. Seattle Police were called and the response was slow.

Lets all get back to focusing on the main issues

1. Better, consistent and useful training.
2. Authority to use the training.
3. Equipment that is functional for the environment
4. A management that does not target staff for termination
5. A safer environment for all Patients Staff and Visitors

So, Tyler, I guess you don't want to be completely honest? We get the story that best fits your needs...but not the entire story. Take notes people, there are always two sides of a story. I know this is not part of the real issue but it is in the fact that he brought it up and seems to be using it as a way to remove the focus on his personal issues and make it look retaliatory. Go figure.

Get real. He's already placed his job in more jeopardy by going to the Media. Now you want him to talk about specific details of the case that Management has already told him not to talk about until the investigation is completed. What you want management to have more ammunition against him. Why don't you also ask management to explain every detail of there rational for placing tyler on Admin leave.

I would ask administration but they aren't the ones that made this a public forum. It proves my point though.

Tyler was fighting this battle LOOOONG before his Admin leave. Besides, look at it this way,

The last three people put on admin leave were all Stewards. this is a FACT.

All three have been targeted with all kinds of nonsense beefs also fact.

All three were active with trying to get the issues fixed.

All indisputibel facts. At the very least any person on th street can see a pattern forming. 3 stewards, three admin leaves. Not proof of retaliation but certainly an indicator.

Tyler was fighting this battle LOOOONG before his Admin leave. Besides, look at it this way,

The last three people put on admin leave were all Stewards. this is a FACT.

All three have been targeted with all kinds of nonsense beefs also fact.

All three were active with trying to get the issues fixed.

All indisputibel facts. At the very least any person on th street can see a pattern forming. 3 stewards, three admin leaves. Not proof of retaliation but certainly an indicator.

The attitude that's its alright that most of your security officers get injured and assaulted every year by violent patients/visitors is the real shame. When they ask management for help for over two years and nothing improves, well that's an even bigger shame.

First, remember the main issues! Tyler I want to thank you for bringing the problems to light.
Second, Pam O, The real shame here is that you are the only HMC Administrator in this blog that has spoken up.
Third, person now calling yourself Penda. My guess is Tyler does want to be completely honest. Question: Were you there the night this occurred? I was, I heard the man say I am going to kill you just before he spit at staff and officers. I heard him scream it with everything he had. Staff was scared for their safety.
As far as who the person was that was called prior to 911, you know Tyler has to remain silent about details like that. Quit trying to focus on Tyler it is getting away from the real matters at hand.

I said it once and I will keep saying it. Let’s get back to the real issues.

1. Better, consistent and useful training.
2. Authority to use the training.
3. Equipment that is functional for the environment
4. A management that does not target staff for termination
5. A safer environment for all Patients Staff and Visitors

I currently work at another hospital in the state of Washington. We face many of the same issues DPS officers at Harborview face. To listen to people slam these brave officers is shocking. People love to judge and make comments about security officers but at the same time wont do the security officers job. I also work with brave officers at my hospital and we, as the officers at Harborview, are working on getting better training and tools to do our job. I think people are shocked to know that hospitals are dangerous places...they are. The patients that security deals with, psych, on drugs, drunk, ect...are the same people very well trained and armed police deal with out on the streets. It is time for a change when it comes to hospital security. The answer is simple, more training and better tools. If you really think using a asp (baton) or going hands on with a out of control person is safer than using pepper foam or a taser you are kidding yourself. These officers do this job because they want to, but at the same time they want and need to be properly trained and given proper tools to protect patients, staff, visitors and themselves from harm. So again people stop judging, what these officers are saying is what happens in many hospitals in the US and it is time for a change!

Excuse me, but I did not post any other message other than the one on Friday night, so whoever used my name last night is stoking the fires with deceipt.For the record, I job is assistant director, not an assistant administrator. I speak only for myself. My posting was addressed to Tyler and his group, who continue to shade things with their own agenda. They have muddied the waters, clouding opportunities for real conversation and problem-solving. I have great respect for our DPS officers, and appreciate the work they do each and every day. Also, for the record, my office door has always been unlocked during office hours, as I believe it is part of my service at the hospital to help all in need.
Please do not use my name without permission. Thank you.

Correction to above: The real shame here is that you are the only HMC Assistant director in this blog that has spoken up.
You can not un-say the hurtful things you said on Friday about officers no matter how much you now say you respect them.

Now, can we get back to the real issues?

1. Better, consistent and useful training.
2. Authority to use the training.
3. Equipment that is functional for the environment
4. A management that does not target staff for termination
5. A safer environment for all Patients Staff and Visitors

Chris Ingalls and KING 5: Can you take this blog down? If you want accurate information, interview a cross section of people at HMC. This is not useful and is rather ugly.

This would be nice for HMC so the truth would stop getting out to the public. If staff is so fustrated give us ideas on how to fix the problems.

You call "the truth" trumped up stats and your personal spin on events? This site is a homage to misinformation. If King 5 investigated "you" the person that poses as "staff" "nurse" "ambulance driver"... aka TYLER they would drop the whole thing

The "truth" is out there, just go to 8EH-74 and ask for the stats yourself. Oh Yeah, Officers have been "trumping" up the stats for five+ years. We let ourselves get injured and assaulted to increase the numbers. And Tyler is the mastermind behind it all, even though the stats were just a high before he was an officer. Don't forget all the stats are compiled by management and sent to the United States Department of Education as required by Federal LAW. Better yet feel free to call "Security on Campus" at 1-800-251-7959 and report that UW/Harborview have been turning in false crime stats to the Department of Education for the last five plus years.

Also, that stuff on the KIRO7 about Harborview saying the assault stats are misleading because some assaults are verbal. Yeah thats not true either. Guidelines from the U.S. Department of education; Assaults are physical assaults, Verbal assaults are harassment. But again, don't take my word for it, call the Department of education and turn in UW for reporting false crime stats

Still intrested and looking into what is blogged by HMC employees. t
This blogg was placed in the archives but it is still open and I need more information I plan on comming to the Hospital myself with a video camera and start asking employees questions about their saftey concerns. Then I will see who wants to run it on their station. Where would be the best location to get a good cross mix of employees and security without HMC administrative constraints? Anyone want to speak on camera?

You know everyone here can say all this crap about stats being "trumped up" but the truth is just that truth. Take a few minutes out of your busy day and walk up to 8EH-74 and get the stats for yourself. Also this crap about Officers wanting weapons????

I can tell you from personally working the floor at HMC as a DPS Officer for 2 and a half years that the thing I would have liked to see the Officers have at their disposal are Tasers! I now work for a Sheriff Dept, I am certified and I HAVE used the Taser, on more than one ocassion. And I know first hand what physical and psychological effect the Taser has.

It's an ABSOLUTELY beutiful tool. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...if anyone here does not believe the stats just look for yourself. Take the time to really look and get info on other hospitals around the nation.

In Missouri, regular hospitals now, not just level one trauma centers; ALL. I say AGAIN ALL of the hospitals employ ARMED Security Officers or Police Officers as Security. Why is it so hard for people in Seattle to understand this! I really don't understand why people are so hard at grasping this idea.

It is really simple, if you have a drug seeker, intoxicated, drugged induced or mentally ill person that wants to harm someone, who is going to stop them? Look at all of the level 1 trauma centers across the US, HARBORVIEW is the ONLY ONE that does not employ armed Security Officers or have their own Police Officers, Why?

Again, take a look at the information, it is definately out there for you to see. Also the person that posted before I did, if you think Harborview is going to let you bring a camera inside and film the Officers and what they deal with, you are sadly mistaken.

Harborview will NEVER allow that and ANY Officer observed talking to a camera at work is GONE! Garaunteed! You see Harborview Administration likes to cover things up. Yes I know it is hard for you to beleive, but that is true.

I can tell you that I have nothing to lose here, I am no longer employed by HMC or the UW. I have no reason to lie about what I am going to say here. I was working the day the guy in CTU as the unit used to be called, hung himself by a TV cord.

I was there when he was taken to the ER and I was the Officer ASSAULTED PHYSICALLY by an ADMINSTRATOR of the establishment. I was advised to leave the ER trauma room that the person was being treated in and PHYSICALLY REMOVED from the room after being told by my supervisor to stay with that person.

I was NEVER even once given an appology for that incident. I was pretty new at the time and with a wife and three children to take care of I shut up and did not "ROCK" the boat.

So go ahead everyone, decide for yourselves who you are going to beleieve. Some of you may wonder what I am doing here blogging about a place that I no longer work for, hell I don't even live in the same state!

Well I will tell you why and that is because I have made LIFE LONG FRIENDS with the Officers of Harborview Department of Public Safety. I have no other reasons other than I still care about the Officers that I have litterally stood by shoulder to shoulder with.

Fighting besides and backing up on violent calls. Some of you may not understand that, but I would not expect you to. You see these Officers at HMC are unique, they are truly one of a kind. They Honestly care about the people that work, visit and are being cared for at HMC.

I would hope that this Blog is not being abused by people for personal gain. I hope that everyone that reads this Blog takes the time and really find out what's going on.

Officers of HMC, I am still proud of what you do, keep your heads up....ONE MISSION, ONE GOAL, ONE TEAM!

The way we solve this dilemma is to change the way Harborview does business. No more injured people with no money allowed! No more homeless! Psych patients! Only well insured tax paying citizens please! Problem solved.

Now THAT is a silly way to look at this.

But it does in a tongue in cheek way look into the heart of the matter. How do you balance Safety with the mission.

Gangbangers, drug addicts and thugs all need medical help too! They are people and when shot, overdosed or thumped in return they will need help! And each officer there would do as much to protect them as anyone else. I have seen officers fight with a person one day, then turn around and help that person with a need the next day. These are officers that care about the mission. They want these people to get what they need.

But there are others who come to harborview not with a medical need. But specifically to prey on the weak and distraught patients and visitors. They know that while you sit there worrying about your child or husband that may well be dying only feet away that thoughts of your purse are far from your mind. A doctor comes to the waiting area with news and you jump up. Your purse, alone and unwatched, is then gone. Fast slick and never to be seen again. Or your father is sleeping in his hospital room. In comes the predator and pow! Dad's wallet or i-pod is gone.

Happens EVERY day. Officers who even witness this happening are powerless to stop it, they are instructed to observe it and call police, several minutes away, and watch as your items walk away.

Officers want the authority to stop the crime, and also the training and tools not to get injured. Not to be continuously at risk for thankless people.

I would write more but who reads this now? No one that can make change. All I read anymore is recriminations and name calling. Shame on you.

Shame on me... indeed. Your story makes me hang my head in shame. Sob.

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