Beginning July 1, Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) will extend security operations to Vanderbilt Health hospitals in Bedford and Coffee counties, as well as the two emergency departments at Vanderbilt Health Clarksville — a milestone that reflects years of growth and a deliberate effort to deliver consistent, high-quality security across the health system.
Health care workers are five times more likely to be victims of a violent event than workers in any other profession in the United States.
“Our focus is to let staff know we are doing this for them,” said Steven Engstrom, MSCJ, Deputy Chief of Police with VUPD. “We care about their safety and are proactively following Vanderbilt Health’s strategic plan to ensure the safety of our community.”
A familiar, local presence in new places
Staff at Bedford and Tullahoma will see the same uniformed safety and security officers — SSOs, formerly known as CSOs — who are a regular presence on Vanderbilt Health campuses in Nashville. VUPD’s law enforcement jurisdiction is currently limited to Davidson County. The department works alongside local police departments and is actively building relationships, Engstrom said.
“No matter if you’re serving at Main Campus or one of the regional hospitals, we want you to feel the same presence and the same look,” Engstrom said. VUPD has served Wilson County Medical Center for nearly two years.
At Clarksville, VUPD’s initial focus will be the two emergency departments. Staff outside the emergency department at Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital (VCH) should continue to contact security using the existing process. Engstrom said a future phase will extend VUPD’s presence across VCH.
VUPD has nearly doubled in size over the past year, creating the capacity to staff these regional locations without diminishing service on the Main Campus. There will be three to four SSOs on duty for each shift, said Engstrom.
“VUPD is Vanderbilt Health’s connection to these local law enforcement groups,” said Executive Vice President Chad Fitzgerald, JD. “They have strong relationships with all of these folks, up to and including the district attorney’s office. This is part of a larger effort to bolster the continuity of security services that our staff sense and feel. We’re fortunate to have a police force that is growing and keeping up with the times and keeping up with technologies and ways to keep us safe.”
When and why to call VUPD early
Staff at all locations are encouraged to reach out to VUPD sooner rather than later when concerns arise.
“The earlier we can mitigate risk and offer safety to our staff and the community that we serve, the better,” Engstrom said.
The SSOs can also help with everyday safety issues: If a car battery is dead in the parking lot or a staff member can’t remember where they parked at the end of a long shift, VUPD can assist with that, too — just as they do on the Main Campus.
Need to call VUPD?
Non-emergency: (615) 322-2745
Emergency: (615) 421-1911
For an emergency that requires immediate police response, call 911 to reduce delay.