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Police Shooting of Knife-Bearing Woman

The Facts

A man walks into an ambulance bay at a hospital saying that his wife needs help. He indicates that she has a knife, has threatened him, and is a danger to herself.  Police are called, as that is standard protocol for any potential patient who is off property.

The hospital did not employ anyone who can assist in patient retrieval.  Police arrive to assist and are confronted by a violent, armed woman.  After repeated warnings and attempts to deescalate, the woman charges the police while screaming “Let’s do this !!”  The police respond with deadly force. Mental health advocates were critical of both hospital and police response. There was community outrage.

Our Response

The insured received the following services:

  • Investigation
  • Strategizing with hospital legal counsel regarding theories of liability
  • Coordination of Psychological First Aid for hospital employees who witnessed shootings
  • Crisis Communications Support- message mapping for key stakeholders and media management

The Value

The value the insured received included: 

  • Preservation of evidence for future litigation
  • Emotional support for employees 
  • Brand and reputation  assistance