A new state law is giving qualified security officers at three St. Peter’s Health Partners hospital campuses expanded authority to respond to violent incidents, a change hospital leaders say is intended to better protect healthcare workers, patients and visitors.
The law applies to security officers at St. Peter’s Hospital, Samaritan Hospital and Samaritan’s Albany Memorial campus. It grants qualified officers peace-officer authority, allowing them to take people into custody, issue appearance tickets, remove trespassers or hold individuals until local police arrive.
The legislation comes as hospital systems across New York confront continuing violence against nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers…