Winnipeg police are investigating after a firearm was pulled on security guards at Health Sciences Centre over the weekend.
Health Sciences Centre CEO Ronan Segrave said the incident happened Saturday after hospital security detained one person and were escorting another out of the Children’s Hospital.
Once outside the hospital Segrave said the person pulled out what looked like a gun and pointed it at the guards before running away from the hospital.
He said security officers followed the hospital’s protocols properly.
“They’re actions in terms of dealing with that, and not escalating that situation … was entirely appropriate and entirely correct,” Segrave said at a press conference Tuesday.
“They are highly skilled and well trained — they responded quickly and absolutely appropriately to this incident.”
Segrave said police have been able to identify a male suspect with help from surveillance footage and hospital security.
Winnipeg police say no arrests have been made at this time.
MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky lauded the security guards efforts to remove the person and put the hospital and surrounding area in lockdown.
“These security guards, these heroes as far as I’m concerned, they did everything that they could to ensure that the hospital was kept safe. They removed the person that had the gun, they got them away from the hospital,” Gawronsky said.
Referring to it as a “code silver” Gawronsky said this is the first time security officers at the hospital have had a potential firearm pointed at them.
In a statement Shared Health said they did not consider the incident a ‘code silver’, which is a designation used by the hospital to indicate an armed intruder or active shooter situation.
“A Code Silver was not called as a result of the incident Saturday as the suspect was outside the hospital, was not an active shooter and was on a path of travel away from HSC, mitigating any threat within the hospital’,” the statement read.
Segrave confirmed the incident marks the first time a firearm has been pointed at hospital security guards.
He said hospital officials will now review what happened and look at whether or not any further security measures need to be implemented.
“This is not a regular everyday occurrence, and I think that’s really important for the public to understand,” he said.
“We do have challenges … in particular to things like crystal meth and other issues that are a challenge to all of us in society.
“But incidents like this … (are) extremely rare.”