WellSpan plans private police, explores path to rollout across 9-county footprint

WellSpan Health announced Friday, Sept. 5, plans to increase security at its facilities by increasing weapons detection at entrances and creating a private police force.

The healthcare system said in a press release that the private police force would supplement the existing WellSpan security team and be created under the leadership of vice president of public safety William White, a former Pennsylvania State Police major.

“With this initiative, WellSpan Health is continuing to take a proactive approach to enhancing our security efforts and the safety of our patients, their families, team members and all who visit WellSpan hospitals,” White said in a statement. “The security initiatives we’ve already launched have led to a 55 percent reduction of workplace violence injuries resulting in time off work. But we know we must do more.”

According to the press release, WellSpan has allocated more than $20 million to its safety and security operations over the last two years.

The private police force is not intended to replace state and municipal police forces, WellSpan said.

WellSpan said the private police force will provide 24/7 coverage across the health system, and it has already begun the legal process in York County where WellSpan Health is based.

Under “Act 501” in Pennsylvania law, nonprofit corporations with buildings or grounds open to the public may apply to the Court of Common Pleas of the county of the registered office of the corporation for the appointment of such persons as the corporation may designate to act as policemen for the corporation. Upon court approval, an oath is administered by the county’s recorder of deeds, who must maintain a list of active private police.

WellSpan said that approval has already been obtained in York County. It wasn’t immediately clear if any WellSpan private police officers have yet taken their oath with the York County recorder of deeds.

In Lebanon County, the buildings and grounds of WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital are owned by the nonprofit corporation The Good Samaritan Hospital of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, which is registered to 4th and Walnut streets in Lebanon. Although WellSpan has been filing its taxes for Good Samaritan Hospital using a York address, the nonprofit corporation’s registered office in the eyes of the commonwealth sits right here in Lebanon County. However, both corporations are under the umbrella of York-based WellSpan Health, which will manage the private police force, so court approval may only be needed in York.

LebTown sought to clarify with WellSpan what process it planned to use to create a private police force in each of the nine counties it serves – Adams, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, and York counties.

“WellSpan has not yet made the final determination as to how this organization will proceed in other counties within its footprint,” said spokesperson Ryan Coyle. “We are, however, committed to implementing this program in compliance with applicable law.”

Lebanon County officials said there are no private police currently operating in Lebanon County under Act 501. (School resource officers are provisioned under a different law.)