Mar 25, 2016 2 min read

The nonprofit that runs Washington Hospital plans to form a private police force for its facilities.

Washington County Judge Gary Gilman signed an order Thursday allowing Washington Health System to hire private police officers to work in and near its facilities throughout Washington County.

WHS spokeswoman Stephanie Wagoner gave July 1 as a rough implementation date for the plan.

State law allows nonprofits with buildings or grounds open to the public to appoint police officers to provide security on their property.

Wagoner said there wasn’t a particular incident that prompted the system to hire the officers.

“Transforming from an internal security department to a hospital police department will enable Washington Health System to expand our protective and investigative services in cooperation with state and local agencies and in accordance with Pennsylvania law,” Wagoner said in an email.

She didn’t respond to questions about whether the health system plans to take a similar approach at WHS-Greene Hospital or its other facilities in Greene County.

In giving his approval, Gilman also appointed a list of 13 candidates named in the system’s petition and authorized the system to appoint other officers in the future as needed.

Hiring of these individuals is contingent on them passing the necessary background checks for employment and carrying firearms.