Erlanger Health System trustees gave final approval Thursday to a resolution outsourcing the hospital’s security to Chattanooga-based Walden Security at the hospital’s monthly board meeting.
Seven members of the hospital’s current security force abruptly left the meeting room after the unanimous vote, which came after more than a week of protest from security officers picketing outside Erlanger hospital. They have claimed that the bid process that selected Walden was unfair and that the move to outsource security will compromise hospital safety and put their jobs at risk.
Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson, chief operating officer, said the move ensures Erlanger has a “sustainable” security force at a time when it’s become increasingly difficult for the hospital to manage its own in-house security team.
Andrew Stinnett, a Chattanooga attorney who represents some of the security officers, said he planned to speak at the Thursday meeting about his clients’ concerns.
But he was advised Thursday by legal counsel for Erlanger he would not be allowed to speak at the meeting because under Tennessee Annotated Code, security issues are confidential.