Napa State Hospital Employees To Gather Thursday To Remember Slain Co-Worker Technician Donna Gross

An event in remembrance of Donna Gross, marking the four-year anniversary of her death, is scheduled Thursday, Oct. 23 at Napa State Hospital, at the front entrance on 2100 Napa-Vallejo Highway.

The ceremony is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with speakers beginning at noon.

Napa State Hospital staff, members of the statewide Safety Now Coalition of employee organizations and concerned members of the community are invited, along with members of the public.

Four years after Donna Gross’ on-grounds murder by a Napa State Hospital patient, safety changes are moving forward at Napa State Hospital and California’s four other state forensic mental-health facilities.

Through collaborative efforts between dedicated frontline staff, state legislators, Cal/OSHA and the California Department of State Hospitals, new employee personal-distress alarm systems are rolling out, grounds-patrol teams have taken root, hospital-police presence has increased and four key pieces of legislation were signed into law September 28 to address and assist state hospitals’ assaultive populations.

Nevertheless, violence in state hospitals continues and there is more work to be done.

With staff at all California state hospitals asked to wear black October 23 in remembrance, event participants will reaffirm their commitment to work in Donna Gross’ name toward a safer environment for everyone living and working in these California state facilities.

--Information courtesy of event organizers.