LANCASTER, S.C. — Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, South Carolina, has been put on lockdown an average of once per week this year.
That's far more than in past years, and it's a concern for both patients and staff at the hospital.
Louis Wilson was in the hospital Monday night when a shooting victim was brought into the emergency room.
"I heard the sirens and they came over the intercom,” Wilson said. “Locked down the hospital. Nobody could leave or come in.”
The lockdown, following an overnight shooting incident on Clinton Avenue, was brief.
It's one of many times this year, however, in which shooting victims have shown up at the emergency room, often driven there by friends or family members.
Lancaster Police Chief Scott Grant said it can be a very tense, highly emotional moment as other relatives begin showing up outside the hospital.
"You have the family of the victim come up here and lots of times they're upset and want answers,” Grant said. “You can't blame someone for being upset if their brother was just shot.”
That's part of the reason Lancaster police unveiled a new substation Tuesday in the lobby of Springs Memorial Hospital.
Janice Dabney, the hospital’s CEO, approached police, concerned about safety and wanting a greater police presence on the west side of the city.
"People just feel safe when they have a police or county sheriff's department presence," Dabney said.
Chief nursing officer Karen Martin said there is always a concern when there's an active police investigation, and some of those involved could show up at the hospital.
"Once the patient has been brought here, we don't know whoever might have committed the crime might still be out and about," Martin said. "We have to make sure our patients are kept safe."
Grant said having officers, and also detectives, stationed in the hospital lobby will help officers become more ingrained in the community and encourage people who may never go to a police department to come and talk to them.
"I want us to be more accessible and I think this will help accomplish that," Grant said.
Hospital officials said it's a partnership that benefits everyone.
"We often ask officers to come over and drive through the parking lot two or three extra times. It's good to know they'll be here," Dabney said.
Darius Cureton, who lives a block from the hospital, said he is glad to see police there if it means safety for staff.
"They need to feel protected while doing their jobs,” Cureton said. “They need to feel safe while saving someone's life," he said.
There have been no recent serious incidents at the hospital or on hospital grounds. Police and hospital staff hope this move will keep it that way.
Right now, police aren't sure how often the new office will be staffed, but they plan to put patrol officers and investigators there as often as possible.
Space was given to police at no cost to the city after an office was vacated.
Cox Media Group
