ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — Security at three Capital Region hospitals is getting an upgrade.
Guards at St. Peter’s Health Partners have been granted peace officer status under a new state law.
This means the trained security officers at the hospitals can detain people, issue appearance tickets and remove trespassers.
It applies to St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, Samaritan Hospital’s Albany Memorial Campus and Samaritan Hospital in Troy.
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St. Peter’s Health Partners says acts of aggression against hospital staff have more than doubled at its acute care facilities over the past six years. The health system says colleagues have been punched, kicked, bitten and verbally assaulted while trying to provide patient care.
They say the peace officer status is part of a broader workplace violence prevention and public safety strategy.