October 25, 1999
District Officials Take Action Following Incident at D.C. General Hospital
Agencies to Enter into Memorandum of Understanding to Provide Enhanced Security
(Washington, D.C.) At the request of the Mayor Anthony A. Williams, a group of officials from the D.C. Department of Corrections, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Health, and the Public Benefit Corporation met this morning to address the Saturday, October 23, 1999 incident at D.C General Hospital
All agencies with responsibility for adjudicated individuals will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Public Benefit Corporation to provide enhanced security and stricter supervision of inmates receiving treatment. The Metropolitan Police Department is conducting a complete security survey, and the Department of Corrections is working to improve procedures related to prisoner-patient transport as well as management of patients once inside the facility. The MOU will also address longer-term issues, including changes to the facility to increase security.
“I have full confidence that Corrections Department Director Odie Washington and his staff will work closely with police and hospital officials to ensure the safety of everyone who uses our city’s hospitals,” said the Mayor. “We owe so much to the tireless efforts of D.C. General’s emergency room staff. These individuals serve our citizens with care and distinction day in and day out, and they should never be subjected to this kind of psychological trauma in the workplace.”
