Hayden Seeks Renewed Probe of Safety at Clinic

Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) has asked the Santa Monica city attorney to reopen a criminal investigation into worker safety violations at a county mental health clinic where a social worker was killed two years ago.

Hayden made his request in a letter last week after an unannounced inspection of the Santa Monica West Mental Health Center on June 18 by a union representative and the acting director of the county Department of Health. The inspectors said they found “crucial deficiencies” in safety, including violations of the center’s own security rules.

The center became the focus of worker safety after social worker Robbyn Panitch was stabbed to death by a mentally ill patient.

Santa Monica City Atty. Robert M. Myers said he received Hayden’s letter on Monday and had not decided whether to reopen the case. An investigation last year by Myers’ office concluded that it was not appropriate to prosecute any county employees in the incident.