The Owensboro Police Department has launched an internal investigation after a weapon was discovered on Owensboro Health Regional Hospital property. Officers did not search the person or their belongings for weapons during the response to a mental health crisis call, officials said.
Editor’s note: Owensboro Times does not typically report on issues involving self-harm. We have chosen not to include all the details related to the initial reason for the police response. In their release, OPD also noted they take great care in ensuring anonymity for persons in need of help, with officials saying: “We are revealing the following information now that media entities have reached out to us after being notified by unidentified sources regarding a weapon found on OHRH property.”
According to the release from OPD, officers responded on January 13 to the Owensboro Cancer Center after receiving reports from hospital staff about an elderly patient expressing intentions of self-harm. Officers confirmed the statements and advised that a psychiatric evaluation at the main OHRH facility was necessary, according to the release. The patient agreed and complied with the officers’ instructions, according to OPD.
During the transport process, officers asked the patient if they had any weapons, to which the patient responded negatively, the release says.
However, officers did not conduct a physical search of the patient or their belongings.
Officers “took the individual’s personal items and had the patient sit in the cruiser without being searched, while placing the items in the cruiser trunk area without searching it,” according to the release.
Upon arrival at OHRH, the patient was escorted to the behavioral health unit, where hospital staff took custody of the patient’s belongings, the release says.
“Officers left the completed police forms with the nurse, released the patient to the hospital and subsequently left the scene,” according to OPD.
Shortly after, ER staff contacted OPD to report that a weapon had been found among the patient’s possessions, the release says.
“ Officers returned to the ER and were met by understandably frustrated ER and Security staff. Officers brought the weapon to OPD where it was logged into our evidence collection unit for safe-keeping,” the release reads.
OPD acknowledged the serious breach of protocol in failing to properly search the patient and their belongings.
“The Owensboro Police pride themselves in adherence to policies and guidelines that protect our officers and citizens,” the release says. “Balancing compassion for our citizens and the security of our community as a whole is at times a challenging endeavor; however, we are committed to addressing our mistakes and ensuring that we provide the best service possible to all of our citizens each and every day. The preceding account describes infractions to policies set forth by this agency that are being investigated internally for accountability and correction.”
Owensboro Health shared the following statement with Owensboro Times: “Owensboro Health recently informed the Owensboro Police Department about an incident involving a patient. While we cannot discuss specific patient cases, we can say that no patients or staff were in danger. We value our strong relationship with law enforcement and remain committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and care for our patients and team members.”
