Cooper Hospital bolsters security after incidents

Cooper University Hospital in Camden has beefed up security slightly after two incidents. In one a nurse was assaulted, in the other a staff member was robbed.

The two staff members were outside the hospital when the incidents occurred. Although both crimes were in the last two weeks, they were described as isolated by the hospital and police and do not appear to indicate a trend. Both led to quick arrests.

"These are isolated incidents that just happened to be on our campus. . . . Totally separate incidents, but we look at every incident that happens. We take it very seriously," hospital spokeswoman Lori Shaffer said Friday. "We did, effective immediately, . . . increase security on the perimeter of our campus with our internal security as well as the Camden police."

The metro division of the Camden County Police has increased its patrols around the hospital, spokesman Michael Daniels said.

Rowan University, which has a satellite campus in the city and partners with the hospital at the nearby Cooper Medical School, also patrols the area with its police force, as does the Camden County Sheriff's Office.

Security measures have been improved over the last several years, Shaffer said, including increasing the number of security cameras and installing new lighting.

Valet parking is available at the hospital's entrance for patients, Shaffer said, and there is direct access to the hospital from the parking garage.