HAGERSTOWN – City officials are exploring ways to ease the strain on police resources caused by a long-standing practice of transporting arrestees with minor injuries to Meritus Hospital before they can be admitted to the county jail.
Police Chief Paul Kifer told the mayor and council during their Tuesday, Sept. 23, work session that the jail’s contracted medical provider often refuses to accept detainees until they receive hospital clearance, even for minor scrapes or routine medical checks. The result, he said, is officers spending hours at the hospital, sometimes in pairs, which reduces patrol coverage across the city.
“This takes multiple officers off the street for long periods of time,” Kifer said, noting the challenge is not just about overtime costs but also about the effect on public safety.
Options on the table
Council members discussed potential fixes, including:
- Hiring retired or part-time sworn officers on an on-call basis to remain with arrestees during hospital visits.
- Exploring whether Franklin County could staff a doctor at the central booking, reducing the need for hospital transports.
Both options would require cooperation with county officials and financial analysis to determine the most cost-effective approach.
Council weighs public safety impact
Several council members expressed concern about the loss of efficiency. With hospital waits stretching into hours, police coverage elsewhere in the city is weakened, they noted.
The issue has become more pressing as the department continues to juggle staffing demands, community policing initiatives and specialized enforcement details.
Next steps
City staff members will continue discussions with county counterparts and explore the feasibility of both options. While no immediate solution was adopted, officials signaled a sense of urgency in finding a way to keep more officers on patrol and reduce the time spent tied up in hospital hallways.
