Since the ordeal, the Hawthorn Center has closed for reasons not related to the botched active shooter drill.
Michigan to Pay $13M Over Botched Children’s Hospital Active Shooter Drill
MDHHS’ class action settlement was the result of an unannounced 2022 active shooter drill at a state-run psychiatric hospital for children.
Adobe Stock image by enterdigital
DETROIT, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will pay $13 million to 50 patients and 90 employees of a psychiatric hospital for children after conducting an unannounced active shooter drill that their attorneys say traumatized them.
The class action settlement was the result of an active shooter drill held on Dec. 21, 2022 at the Hawthorn Center, a state-run mental health facility for children, reports ClickOnDetroit. The center had two staff members act as fake intruders, reports the Detroit News.
However, patients and most of the other employees, as well as local law enforcement and EMS were not told ahead of time about the exercise, reports WKRG.
When someone at the front desk announced through the hospital’s PA that two armed men were inside the facility and shots had been fired, people believed the threat was real and hid under desks, barricaded their doors, texted family members, and called 911.
In response, dispatchers sent dozens of emergency response vehicles from state and local agencies to the center. Police in riot gear with long guns were also dispatched to the scene.
When the two unarmed employees who had been assigned to play the role of active shooters went out to the kitchen’s loading dock, they were surrounded by law enforcement officers with guns drawn. They were ordered to open their jackets, lift their shirts, lift their hands in the air, and lie on the ground, reports the Detroit News. Both of the employees said they feared they would be shot by police.
MDHHS Doesn’t Admit Wrongdoing in Active Shooter Drill
A report on the exercise that was conducted in March by MDHHS didn’t find enough evidence showing employees violated any work rules or policies.
The 50 children who were patients at the Hawthorn Center at the time of the drill will each receive about $60,000. The 90 staff members will be paid an average of more than $50,000 each, depending on the extent of the trauma they experienced as a result of the drill. Attorneys for the plaintiffs will be paid about $3 million.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
About the Author
Robin Hattersley-Gray
Robin has been covering the security and campus law enforcement industries since 1998 and is a specialist in school, university and hospital security, public safety and emergency management, as well as emerging technologies and systems integration. She joined CS in 2005 and has authored award-winning editorial on campus law enforcement and security funding, officer recruitment and retention, access control, IP video, network integration, event management, crime trends, the Clery Act, Title IX compliance, sexual assault, dating abuse, emergency communications, incident management software and more. Robin has been featured on national and local media outlets and was formerly associate editor for the trade publication Security Sales & Integration.
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
