Press Release  Department of Public Health’s Tewksbury Hospital and Tewksbury Police Department Strengthen Partnership to Enhance Safety and Security

BOSTON — Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Tewksbury Hospital, working closely with the Tewksbury Police Department, has completed a sweeping modernization of its security operations. The joint effort, launched after a detailed review of existing practices, has resulted in a series of reforms designed to enhance protections for patients, staff, and visitors at the hospital as well as the broader Tewksbury community while creating an innovative model for hospital security and community partnership.

The upgraded campus security program at Tewksbury Hospital – one of four public health hospitals operated by DPH -- reflects a deliberate, multi-year strategy to strengthen hospital safety. The initiative focuses on three key priorities: aligning policies and procedures with best practices, upgrading technology and equipment, and deepening coordination with local first responders.

“Tewksbury Hospital’s collaboration with the Tewksbury Police Department reflects the importance of partnership in addressing our shared challenges with the goal of keeping patients, staff and the community safe,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA. “While this work is ongoing, the combination of best practices, upgraded technology, and community partnerships is enabling Tewksbury Hospital and the Tewksbury Police Department to center on the people they serve – patients, staff, visitors, and neighbors. I want to thank our staff, Chief Columbus and his team for coming to the table to find the best path forward for Tewksbury.”

“Our partnership with Tewksbury Hospital Public Safety demonstrates the power of collaboration,” said Tewksbury Policy Chief Ryan Columbus. “By training together, sharing expertise, and updating operations, we are not just keeping the hospital safe and secure, we are also setting an example for hospital-law enforcement partnerships across the Commonwealth.”

“Tewksbury Hospital provides expert, compassionate care for some of the most medically and behaviorally complex patients in Massachusetts,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “That mission calls for clinical excellence as well as an unshakable commitment to dignity, respect, and safety for all who come to our campus and for our neighbors in Tewksbury. Safety is inseparable from excellent care, and the reforms underway are a clear expression of that commitment. I am profoundly grateful to all who turned this vision into action, building a safer, stronger Tewksbury Hospital today and for generations to come.”

As part of the security upgrade plan, Tewksbury Hospital will invest in new training programs, staffing enhancements, and emergency communication tools to increase readiness for a wide range of scenarios. Collectively, these improvements establish a stronger, more resilient system to safeguard the hospital campus as well as the Tewksbury community now and into the future.

“These advances reflect a deliberate, forward-thinking approach to hospital safety,” said Jason Smith, Director of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management at Tewksbury Hospital. “From modernizing policies and procedures to investing in training, equipment, and communication systems, we are committed to creating a safer and more secure environment for everyone who walks through our doors or across our campus.”

Improvements include:

• Updated policies and procedures: Security operating procedures at Tewksbury Hospital have been overhauled to reflect best practices and legal requirements. Protocols for the transport of court-committed and high-risk patients have been carefully reviewed and significantly strengthened.
• Modern training: Tewksbury Hospital’s Public Safety personnel have completed more than 2,000 hours of professional development, including joint exercises with Tewksbury Police in scenarios such as patient elopements, appropriate use of force, and the safe application of issued equipment. These sessions have not only enhanced officer readiness, but they have also fostered stronger relationships between Tewksbury Hospital and Tewksbury Police.
• Enhanced screening and prevention: New patient and visitor screening processes, including the use of magnetometers and X-ray machines, have been implemented at key hospital entrances to prevent prohibited items from entering facilities.
• Technology and staffing upgrades: Supervisory staff and the overall number of public safety officers have increased to provide broader coverage. Also, communications equipment, including interoperable radios that link directly with police and fire, and new electric and utility vehicles have been added for faster response times.
• Emergency preparedness: The Hospital recently implemented the AlertsMA mass-notification system, which delivers real-time instructions to staff, patients, and visitors during urgent situations.

Tewksbury Hospital launched a comprehensive campus safety and security assessment in February 2024, after a rise in calls – mostly related to patients leaving the grounds without authorization or disruptive patients and visitors – prompted the need for assistance from the Tewksbury Police Department. The hospital organized a Security Assessment Team, comprising seasoned security professionals from across local, state, and national law enforcement agencies, to conduct a comprehensive review. The Security Assessment Team also incorporated input from area emergency response services, regional dispatch centers, and community stakeholders.

Finalized in June 2024, the assessment report guided the development of a roadmap for strengthening campus security and public safety. Throughout the past year, the hospital and Tewksbury Police Department have worked together to develop strategies for improving safety and plan the implementation of the recommended strategies.

Statements of Support

State Senator Barry Finegold (D-Andover)

"Collaboration between local and state partners is essential to the success and safety of our communities. By upgrading technology, equipment, staffing for local first responders and security operating procedures at Tewksbury Hospital, we’re strengthening public safety in the community and supporting the growth of these vital services provided by Tewksbury Hospital."

State Representative Vanna Howard (D-Lowell)

“This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to a modern, holistic approach to safety for all residents. This effort will lead to better care outcomes and provide our neighbors with greater peace of mind."

State Representative David Robertson (D-Tewksbury)

“The issues at Tewksbury Hospital were complex and persistent but thanks to the efforts of our local officers, Chief Columbus and his administration, and our DPH partners we have made great progress in identifying and addressing these problems. I, along with my colleagues in the state delegation, look forward to continue supporting Tewksbury Hospital in its mission to providing critical public health services while also ensuring that it is a positive, safe presence in our community. I would also especially like to thank the board members and hospital staff who contributed their thoughts and concerns in order to better their campus for their patients and the public-at-large.”

About Tewksbury Hospital

Tewksbury Hospital is one of four public health hospitals operated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The 370-bed facility provides long-term care for adults with complex chronic medical and behavioral health needs. Its campus also hosts nine residential vendor programs providing 24/7 services and offers regional space for five state agencies, making it a critical hub for both specialized health care and essential state services. 

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