Posted on 02/16/2011 8:47:01 AM PST by Sasparilla
Four loss prevention employees at a Layton, Utah Walmart were fired for detaining an armed shoplifter whom they they reportedly saw with a $248.00 computer under his clothing. He was told to go to the loss prevention room by two workers. They were joined by two other employees in the room.
He reportedly told them that since they had their laptop back, he was going to leave. Employees said that he also told them that he had something else that he shouldn’t have.
The man who was being detained then reportedly drew a handgun from a holster and put it in a jacket pocket as he held it. The employees said he then told them that the gun was cocked, and told them he didn’t want to do this, so they should let him go. Two employees grabbed him when they saw the gun, took his gun, and held him against a wall. He was resisting the employees and the responding officer had to forcefully arrest him.
Loss prevention employees told officers that they didn’t really believe that the man wanted to hurt them because he never pointed the gun at them and didn’t hold it by the gun’s grip in a manner like he would if he wanted to shoot it. They also said that he was just resisting and simply trying to get away. However, the employees said that they were fearful of what would happen if he ran through the store with his gun. They also said that the police told them they did a good job.
But their reward next week from Walmart was a ticket to the unemployment line. They were fired for...
(Excerpt) Read more at armedselfdefense.blogspot.com ...
If you see something, don’t do ANYTHING!
I haven’t been to a Wal-Mart since Big sis put her ugly ass face in the store.
Considering how our laws are, they did the right thing. The thief’s ‘civil rights’ are worth millions of dollars
They knew company rules. They broke them. They got fired.
They should have called the cops.
Emasculation alert. Government-emasculation-via-corporate-proxies alert.
Why get involved with an armed gunman for a $250 retail price laptop? You job is not to take down armed criminals as stated by your job description and rules.
Walmart is in their rights to fire these folks. It’s their store. They can run it any way they want.
They should have called the cops.
The story leaves some details out, but they appear to operate similarly to the WalMart I shop at. Shoplifter is detained while police are called. The variable here was that the guy was armed and brandished a weapon. Their response was correct, up to the point the guy showed the handgun, and it was correct (for their safety and that of the shoppers) once he brandished it.
Why should they be fired for basically watching out for themselves once he showed he was armed, and handled his weapon?
Wonder what options these former employees have against the perp, who brandished a loaded firearm and made threats against them.
Um, because they didn't know he was armed until they had him in the office, likely waiting for the cops. Standard procedure is to detain until cops arrive.
It’s also a case of safety for the employees.
As a manager of a small convenience store, we also have a policy of obeying a robber’s orders without question. It’s about safety for the employees.
If a robber says he has a weapon, he has a weapon. We don’t want the criminal element to believe that they need to actually have to go get a weapon.
I hope some other company, not run by slimy worthless inheritor weasels, hires these valiant men, at an even better salary.
That Walmart is 3 miles from my house. It’s a Super-Walmart and is always very, very busy. Not all of their clientele are ‘upper-crust’ people. Utah is a haven for illegals.
There are two sides to every coin; but based on the article, because the customer didn’t point the gun at them, and just wanted to leave; the employees placed Walmart in jeopardy by attacking him. If the gun had gone off - and he was injured, he could sue Walmart saying that the injury was caused by attacking employees.
No job is worth your life. If there is no threat; let him leave and let the police deal with an armed felon. Walmart made the only decision they could have made.
If this person had acted aggressively and threatened the employees (which did NOT happen); then the employees were merely acting in self-defense. This was not the case.
Sad to loose what were very likely good employees.
. . and let him run through the store with a loaded gun? If your child got killed by a shoplifter (shooter) waving a gun in a store, you’d still say they should have done nothing but “call the cops”? - Remember, the cops will be right there only minutes after armed criminals have already shot you in order to fill out a crime report.
These types of policies are in place at just about every place of employment because of a legal system which allows for criminals to sue their victims for millions of dollars.
Hope the perp got charged with armed robbery.
I feel bad that they lost their jobs. Insurance company stuff, no doubt. You’d have to rescue a lot of computers to equal the payout if someone got killed or hospitalized or institutionalized for life.
“I hope they all get better paying jobs elsewhere soon. Walmart does not deserve these good men.”
You said it!! The best response of the day.
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