Mercy Health-Springfield (Ohio) Regional Medical Center unveiled its own police department and vehicle on May 25.
A protection officer — armed and with arresting authority — will be stationed at the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to a June 1 news release from the Cincinnati-based system. The hospital is also adding more unarmed security guards.
"This newly formed department will allow the hospital to better protect our physicians, associates, patients, and visitors," said Jamie Houseman, leader of the protective services team for the market and president of Mercy Health-Urbana (Ohio) Hospital.