The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Princess Margaret Hospital is now under 24-hour security by armed policemen following the weekend shooting of a police officer in the Accident and Emergency department. The critically injured officer was transferred to Doctors Hospital where he remains in stable condition.

The heightened security was announced by Assistant Police Commissioner Leon Bethell who, on instructions from Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade Saturday morning, stationed two “well trained and well armed police officers” to provide security for the hospital.

Speaking at a press conference at the Public Hospital Authority Saturday afternoon, the senior policeman in charge of uniform operations described the new security measures, which became necessary after the shooting and because of the concern of hospital administrators.

“I want to acknowledge that there were concerns with respect to security at the Princess Margaret Hospital brought to our attention by the Hospital administrators. As a result of these concerns, as a result of the shooting of one of our officers, the Commissioner of Police has given a directive to enhance the security of the Princess Margaret Hospital.”

“I am the assistant commissioner of uniform operations and I have complied with those directives. And, as of this moment, we have placed two well armed police officers, well trained police officers, to provide security at the Princess Margaret Hospital.”

Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez was also at the conference and he too was concerned about security at the hospital and what Saturday’s incident had caused.

“Events of last evening is something the Ministry of Health will be paying close attention to. There will be enhanced security measures, not only in the A&E department but throughout the hospital.”

“We will work closely with the Ministry of National Security on this matter. I regard this as extremely serious, and will do everything in my power to prevent this from occurring again.”

ACP Bethell confirmed that the measure will extend throughout the entire hospital and would integrate with the present security system in place at the hospital.

“At present those officers are in place. They have a detailed station in the Accident and Emergency section of the hospital where they will launch their security detail for every shift that is in place at the Princess Margaret Hospital. It will be 24/7 coverage here.”

He assured the administrators that staff, faculty and patients will be safe and secure because the “armed and trained” officers put in place have been instructed not to tolerate any deviant behaviour.

“We will monitor the officers while they are here. Officers from the Central Division and the senior command of the force will maintain surveillance to make sure that these officers in place, remain in place, they remain armed and focused to provide a level of security so that the staff at PMH will feel safe and they’ll know that the police are right there among them should anything occur.”