Marion General Hospital Launches MGH Police Department

It was a historical day at Marion Health on Monday, November 19, 2018, as they celebrated the swearing-in of the very first Marion General Hospital Police Department. The passage of Indiana Senate Bill 582 allows hospitals to establish a hospital police department, appoint hospital police officers, prescribe the duties, and direct the conduct of hospital police officers.

Marion Health CEO and President, Stephanie Hilton-Siebert, led the inaugural ceremonies today, inviting Grant County Superior Court Judge Warren Haas to facilitate the official swearing in of the MGH police officers. Patrick Kolb, Director of Protective Services was first sworn-in as MGH’s first ever Chief of Police. Officers Michael Cruea, Elijah Bilbee and Jay Kay invited family members join in their innovation and swearing-in ceremonies in front a room-filled audience of MGH employees, physicians, volunteers and community members.

Hilton-Siebert stated, “Marion Health found the need to re-evaluate our own level of security. Through this process, it was found that creating a MGH police department would provide enhanced safety for patients, visitors and staff. MGH began the process of establishing its own police department in 2017. We would like to thank Grant County Sheriff Reggie Nevels, Marion Chief of Police, Angela Haley and their staff for the assistance and support throughout this development. We appreciate the service you provide to our community and we are so fortunate to be one of your partners.”

Today’s celebrated Marion Health police officers are the first group to attend and successfully complete the mandatory training outlined by the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board. MGH will be expanding the MGH police force as more MGH protective services employees complete the training.