Weapons detectors in place at Roanoke Memorial

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - New weapon detectors are in place at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. They’re something Carilion officials say they’ve been thinking about since 2023. And a recent attack at the hospital is highlighting the need.

It was just after 9:30 p.m. this past Christmas. A man, identified by police as 37-year-old Ryan Jones goes into the emergency department at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He tries to enter a doctor’s office, and when he’s confronted, he attacks a physician with a hatchet.

That person wasn’t hurt, but police say the officer who stopped Jones was sprayed with hornet spray. A knife and crowbar were found along with the hatchet.

Carilion calls it a tragedy avoided and something that reinforces the importance of safety in hospitals. After the attack, Carilion began using wands to detect weapons. Earlier this month, weapons detectors were installed in CMH’s emergency department, according to Carilion Clinic Vice President Carl Cline.

“It has carried out the process exactly how we have set it, and we’re very confident it will continue to do the work of our expectations.”

Cline says the systems go beyond just metal, identifying knives, guns, and anything else that might be a weapon. He says they hope to add the detectors in other facilities soon — especially for emergency departments, which he says is the main entry point for most people.

Cline says attacks on healthcare workers have been an issue in Roanoke and across the country.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show healthcare workers are far more likely to be attacked on the job than any others in the private sector.

While they’ve done the job, Cline says the detectors are just one layer.

“Simply implementing the weapons detection system has garnered a lot of compliments, a lot of positivity in the work that we’ve had done, I believe has made our staff feel safer. But it’s not just about weapons detection system; it’s about generating and building a culture of safety.”