The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is moving its security force provider from a private firm to the state’s largest security guard union.
The change comes after a law allowing the hospital to hire private security expired in June. The law had been in effect for seven years.
The state doesn’t have enough guards to take over hospital security entirely, so both private and state security guards will staff the hospital for now, according to kitv.com. The transitioning period, during which students and patients will see both private and state guards on campus, will last for an undisclosed amount of time.
Twelve security guards will be needed at a minimum to staff the multi-building hospital around the clock.
Guards have recently begun offering door to door service for patients and students since the homeless population has increased dramatically in recent years.
