Security Overhaul Completed At Tewksbury Hospital

TEWKSBURY, MA — Police have worked with Tewksbury Hospital to create a "sweeping modernization of its security operations," according to a police statement.

Tewksbury Hospital is one of four state-run hospitals. The psychiatric hospital launched a security assessment in February 2024 following a rise in calls.

Many of the calls were related to patients leaving the grounds without authorization or disruptive patients and visitors. These calls often required police assistance.

The overhaul of security operations focuses on aligning policies and procedures with best practices, upgrading technology and equipment, and deepening coordination with local first responders.

As part of the security upgrade plan, Tewksbury Hospital will invest in new training programs, staffing enhancements, and emergency communication tools to increase readiness for a wide range of scenarios, according to the statement.

The improvements are intended to establish "a stronger, more resilient system to safeguard the hospital campus as well as the Tewksbury community now and into the future."

Some incidents at the hospital included a man who escaped and eluded authorities for hours in October 2024 and a man who assaulted employees then fled that same month.

Read more: Man Assaulted State Hospital Employee, Escaped In Tewksbury: Police