Four more staffers at the state’s maximum security mental hospital have been put on administrative leave following an ongoing patient abuse investigation.
"New systems and processes in place helped to identify the incident quickly, allowing us to respond immediately,The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon said. "Client abuse will not be tolerated and staff will be held accountable for their actions."
In addition to the four workers put on leave on Wednesday, 37 staffers at the Whiting Forensic Division were also put on leave during the investigation, 13 have either been terminated, resigned or retired, while 10 have been arrested.
The alleged abuse involves a 59-year-old patient that investigators said was kicked, spit upon and even had a dirty diaper placed on his head.
All of it was caught on surveillance tape over a one month period last winter.
DMHAS said in addition to installing video monitoring staffed by a contracted security company, they have changed the Whiting Maximum Security Unit management team, increased staff training and managerial presence, hired additional staff and improved communication.
