Guthrie has expanded its K9 Security Team with the addition of a second team, introduced during a press conference at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. The new team features Scout, an 80-pound Belgian Malinois, and his handler Officer Daniel Redder. They join K9 Echo and Officer Jennifer Vaughn, who started service in April. This initiative establishes the region’s only K9 security program within a health system.
Scout and Officer Redder will be based in Cortland, New York, but are set to serve throughout the entire Guthrie system. Their role includes de-escalating situations and helping maintain a safe environment for caregivers, patients, and visitors. The hospital emphasized that Scout is a working dog and should not be approached without permission from Officer Redder.
The decision to expand the K9 program comes amid ongoing concerns about violence against health care workers. According to a 2024 survey by National Nurses United, more than 81 percent of nurses reported experiencing some form of workplace violence in the previous year.
“My overall message today is that we remain profoundly committed to ensuring the safety and security of our caregivers, patients and community,” said Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, President and CEO of The Guthrie Clinic. “We know that in order to heal safe, you must feel safe.”
Jennifer Yartym, President of Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, addressed the local impact of these incidents: “It is heartbreaking to see someone who has devoted their entire life to caring for others experience violence by either the patients or families they are trying to help,” she said.
In addition to expanding its K9 program, Guthrie continues advocacy efforts for stronger legal protections for health care workers at both state and federal levels. This includes support for legislation such as the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, which proposes making it a federal crime to assault hospital employees.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Ed Sabanegh; Andrew Dunnick, Senior Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness at The Guthrie Clinic; Jennifer Yartym; Cortland Mayor Scott Steve; and Cortland Chief of Police David Guerrera.
