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Corrections officers killed at Utah hospital

Healthcare Security Weekly, July 2, 2007

An inmate undergoing an MRI at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City shot and killed a corrections officer June 25.

An inmate at the Utah State Prison was undergoing the test for lower back pain, when he wrested a gun from the guard, Stephen Anderson, and shot him in the head, police told The Daily Utah Chronicle. The inmate fled on foot and carjacked a vehicle. Police captured him later at a restaurant where he shot and injured someone inside, the Associated Press reported.

The hospital will take extra security precautions when treating inmates as a result of the shooting, the Chronicle reported. The hospital temporarily suspended inmate care, until putting new security procedures in place. Two officers must now escort inmates, as a temporary fix agreed to by the Utah Department of Correction and officials at the hospital.

While the hospital has a contract to treat inmates, it does not provide security for inmate visits. Corrections officers are responsible for their security when prisoners use hospital facilities. Hospital officials will continue to meet with corrections officials to work out a plan to further increase security.

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