OLYMPIA, WA: Eastern State Hospital CEO retires

One week after the highly publicized escape of a potentially dangerous patient during a field trip to a county fair, longtime Eastern State Hospital CEO Harold "Hal" Wilson announced his retirement from the state-run mental health hospital, effective Oct. 1. The State of Washington is investigating the incident. Eastern State Hospital COO Connie Wilmot has agreed to become the acting CEO of Eastern State Hospital during the transition. The state will announce the steps in the recruitment of a permanent CEO in the near future. Wilson, who began his state service as an accountant at Eastern State Hospital, had been with the state for more than 28 years. He was named CEO of the hospital 10 years ago.