ALBANY — Security guards at several Capital Region hospitals — and other areas of the state — would be given peace officer authority, including the ability to take someone into custody, under a bill being considered by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The legislation comes as hospitals are reporting more frequent and challenging public safety issues, including assaults on staff members. Since the pandemic, that has included violence directed at healthcare workers and sometimes spurred by emergency department backlogs.
The bill would grant the peace officer status to security officers employed by Albany Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital…