State issues RFP to bolster security at New Hampshire Hospital following 2023 shooting

Mar. 27—State officials are looking to bolster the number of security staff at New Hampshire Hospital, after a transient gunman shot and killed a security guard in the lobby of the inpatient psychiatric facility in Concord last fall.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety (DOS) announced Wednesday it has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for security guards at New Hampshire Hospital (NHH), the first steps in an effort to enhance security and address staffing needs to ensure the safety of staff, patients, and visitors at the facility.

The RFP is the result of security plan recommendations identified by DOS officials following a review of existing protocols and systems, performed at the direction of Gov. Chris Sununu following the November 2023 active shooter event.

"The safety of our employees and patients at New Hampshire Hospital is our number one priority," said Sununu in a statement. "The collaborative work done by New Hampshire Hospital, state agencies, and stakeholders to implement improvements will go far in enhancing security at New Hampshire Hospital."

New Hampshire State Trooper Nathan Sleight discharged his service weapon while on duty on Nov. 17, 2023, killing 33-year-old John Madore. Moments before, Madore fired his own weapon, fatally shooting security guard and former Franklin Police Chief Bradley Haas.

Just before 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the New Hampshire Hospital in Concord, Madore fired a handgun into the lobby of the hospital before passing through a metal detector. Haas, who was unarmed, tried to stop Madore before he was shot. He later died at Concord Hospital from his wounds.

Madore was quickly shot and killed by Sleight, who was assigned to protect the psychiatric hospital on Clinton Street.

In a release, DOS officials said staff worked closely with NHH and the state's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the hospital's safety needs.

"The safety approach taken in a psychiatric facility such as NHH must be carefully calibrated to account for the needs of a highly vulnerable patient population," DOS said in a news release. "The model requires that all clinical interventions must be attempted and fail before any defensive measures may be used. The model commits to best practice informed by NHH clinicians and stakeholders, as well as guidance from national organizations responsible for patient safety."

The RFP seeks a vendor to provide security services for the hospital. Per statute, DOS oversees security at the facility.

The chosen vendor will ultimately be tasked with providing contracted security guards, with professional certifications and training, who will patrol the hospital 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

"I'm grateful for the collaborative work that has been done between the Division of State Police, State Office Complex Police Force, NHH and the Department of Health and Human Services relative to these security enhancements, which will help ensure the safety and security of everyone at NHH," said Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn in a statement.

Contracted security guards will only carry firearms in the facility's main lobby while screening patients, staff and visitors at the hospital's entrance, or while patrolling the grounds, unless an emergency requires otherwise. Contracted unarmed security guards may offer assistance within units, and in all patient and non-patient areas of the hospital, when requested by clinicians.

All contracted security guards will be required to have training in de-escalation techniques, defensive tactics, and proper use of pepper spray and tasers.

Contracted security guards may also be asked to assist officers from the State Office Complex Police Force, and New Hampshire State Police Troopers, who will continue to respond to all calls for service within NHH and the State Office Complex.

A copy of the RFP can be viewed on the Statewide Bids and Proposals section of the Department of Administrative Services website.

Earlier this week, DHHS announced the completion of construction in a unit previously designed for children at NHH, allowing for a dozen more adult psychiatric beds to become available.

E Unit has been renovated to accommodate the adult population, and will reopen April 1, the Department of Health and Human Services announced. The 12 additional psychiatric beds increases New Hampshire Hospital's capacity to 164 beds, with additional renovations expected to bring 6 more beds online by May for a total capacity of 170 adult beds.

Renovations at "F" unit also continue, with the plan of the inpatient psychiatric facility in Concord operating at a full capacity of 185 beds later this year.

In a statement, Gov. Sununu called the renovations "another big win for mental health in New Hampshire."

"Today's announcement of expanded capacity at New Hampshire Hospital continues building on years of progress to rebuild and transform New Hampshire's mental health system," Sununu said. "Through Mission Zero we are laser focused on getting people out of emergency rooms and into the best care facilities possible."