WellSpan Health and the York City Police Department (YCPD) announced a plan to establish four hospital resource officers (HROs) to provide dedicated protective services at WellSpan York Hospital and other WellSpan facilities.

"This innovative approach further strengthens our relationship with the York City Police Department," said Victoria Diamond, senior vice president, WellSpan Health Central Region, and president, WellSpan York Hospital. "Having dedicated officers on site who are specially trained to work in this environment and who know our leaders, staff, and our facilities, is key to fostering an environment of mutual support to maintain the security and safety of our patients, visitors, and team members. A safe environment is critically important to a healing environment."

"The HRO model is based on the success of school resource officer models across the country," said York City Police Commissioner Michael Muldrow. "We believe this on-site presence will increase our opportunities to interact and build relationships with York citizens by providing an immediate point of contact for anyone at the hospital needing police services."

Currently, YCPD provides one officer to support the WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department in the evening and early morning hours.

As part of a three-year agreement, WellSpan will cover the cost of one sergeant and three officers, beginning Feb. 7, 2022, to maintain the physical security and safety of WellSpan facilities within York.

The HROs will work collaboratively with the WellSpan leadership and security team on emergency preparedness planning, creating and implementing access control measures at entrances and exits, and facilitating opportunities for mutual aid, training, education, and other collaboration efforts to improve safety and security and reduce violence across the city.

This agreement was developed through the mutual commitment and collaboration of YCPD and WellSpan to find innovate solutions to the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in the city.