We were at my dad’s place in Chisago County over the post-Christmas weekend when we heard about the security officer killed at a nearby hospital. It was close to home, literally. But it also resonated because I spent time researching mental health for a column series earlier this year.
We don’t yet know all the details of the death of Andrea Merrell, a security officer at the Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center in Wyoming, Minn. The criminal complaint indicates she was assaulted by a person fleeing the emergency room.
In today’s column, I point out the risks facing hospitals staff and patients due to mental health, addiction and hostile members of the public. The danger has never been higher. I talked to a former hospital security guard about some of the challenges he saw. My hope is that a tragedy like this helps protect people in the future through better training and adequate staffing.
Read “Officer’s tragic death highlights security challenges at Minnesota hospitals” in the Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
