Whidbey General Hospital staffers have been wearing purple wrist bands inscribed with the letters “LG” in support of their chief nursing officer.

Linda Gipson was found not guilty of assault last week in Island County District Court.

About 200 of the wrist bands were distributed Thursday and Friday last week, Chief of Staff Brenden Hansen told the hospital’s board of directors Monday.

“This is a way to show visible support,” said Hansen, wearing a band himself. “The trial has been divisive in some ways, but in other ways it brings us together.”

“We need to remember why we’re here.”

Moving forward, Hansen said he hopes to bring the hospital staff together as a “family.”

The 7 a.m. gathering drew an unusually large crowd of more than 40 people.

Registered Nurse Tasha Malone spoke during public comment in support of Gipson, saying she believed the CNO was “not fairly represented” and has “very high standards.”

“We support Linda Gipson,” Malone said. “We support our CNO.”

Retired nurse Barbara Read read her letter to the editor that was published in the Whidbey News-Times last week.

“She is a gift to our community — a true nurse who not only has compassion and love for the service, but who has gathered throughout her life the education, experience and courage to make the best leader for our hospital,” Read said.

Longtime Whidbey General Hospital watchdog Rob Born said that, while he supported Gipson, it was “just the beginning of that story” which was a “case of prosecutorial overreach on a vast scale.”

“This was a travesty of injustice,” Born said. “It was an ordeal that should never have taken place.”

“Ms. Gipson may never get her reputation back, but we can let everyone know what an honorable person she is.”

A few attendees bemoaned the cost of the trial to the hospital.

Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks responded in an email Monday that he pursued the case because “a judge found that there was probable cause to believe a crime had been committed when we charged it.”

In addition, a judge later passed on a chance to dismiss the case, Banks said.

“I believe that I had a duty to bring the charge,” Banks said. “Every prosecution costs money. We sometimes have to take difficult cases and let the jury decide. We believed in the case because three credible nurse eye witnesses said it was an assault.”

“Based on their testimony, I believe that the prosecution was warranted.”

Brian Giles, who said his wife has worked at the hospital for 28 years, told hospital board members Monday morning that he wanted to speak for those nurses who lost their jobs as a result of Gipson’s vindication.

“The cost was the reputation of a lot of good employees,” Giles said of the nurses who testified against Gipson. “There was a price. Three or four good nurses paid the price for what they thought.”

Robert Wagner, a doctor unaffiliated with Whidbey General, said the hospital should use the Gipson trial and arrival next week of new CEO Geri Forbes as a chance to start fresh with the community.

“I represent a group of citizens that are very concerned with what is happening in Island County,” Wagner said. “We need more transparency from this hospital. Now is the time for change and taking all this into consideration so that we the public are satisfied with how you’re running this hospital.”

Board President Anne Tarrant said she “would rather talk to someone than listen to rumors.”

The board also bade farewell to outgoing CEO Tom Tomasino with a few tears, and more than half of the room stood to give him a standing ovation.

Monday was his final meeting at Whidbey General Hospital as CEO.

“Every decision has been based on his love for this hospital,” said Human Resources Manager LaJolla Peters. “Thank you, not only for myself but all of the staff at Whidbey General Hospital.”