ECHD board swears in police, decides on new member
Standing before the Ector County Hospital District board of directors and surrounded by their families the hospital’s two new police officers took their oath.
“It was an honor,” Security Director Brad Timmons said.
In addition to his position as head of the hospital’s security, Timmons is now an ECHD police officer.
As a former employee of the Odessa Police Department and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office Timmons is familiar with law enforcement, as is the second new police officer, Kelly Cecil a former ECISD police officer and OPD officer.
Being one of the first new police officers at the hospital, Cecil said he saw an opportunity to help build the department from the ground up.
“This is something that is going to be an adventure,” Cecil said.
As the year progresses, Timmons said he and Cecil will work on getting equipment for the new department and hiring other officers.
And the new officers weren’t the only changes occurring at ECHD.
At the next regular board meeting a new board member for district five will be in attendance.
The two people considered for the position during a closed executive session were Al Karickoff, a retired physician, and David Nelson, a CPA with Nurses Unlimited, Inc, hospital CEO Bill Webster said.
David Nelson will be sworn in at the next regular meeting, Webster said.
In addition to Nelson’s financial background, which was considered potentially beneficial, he is also a longtime Odessa, Webster said.
“I think he knows the community well,” Webster said.
IN OTHER ACTION THE BOARD:
- Recognized the November employees of the month: Sylvia Menefee, Laura Barrientes and Kristen Brame.
- Recognized the quarterly recipients of the Jim O’Leary Memorial Award for Excellence in Patient Safety and Quality Care: Leisha Sanchez, Frankie Sanchez and Debra Barnes.
- Swore in the two new ECHD police officers: Brad Timmons and Kelly Cecil.
- Addressed committee reports.
- Approved the inter-local agreement for the telephone nurse triage.
- Approved the collection agency bid approval.
- Approved the reinsurance renewal.
- Approved the neuro monitoring agreement.
- Appointed David Dunn a member of the Ector County Appraisal District Board of Directors for the 2012 to 2013 term.
- Discussed the 2011 Texas Tech Spur Society Inductee.
