Posted on 11/11/2018 1:30:32 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Off-duty police officers and security guards are common sights at many QuikTrips, but soon the company hopes to hire “hybrid employees” who can work at the convenience store while armed to deter crime and help customers feel safe.
QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh said the need for increased security is a result of the high volume of crimes reported at QT locations.
“We have a lot of stores, and not just Tulsa, where we have had and still will have off-duty police officers helping out, and a lot have full-time outside security,” he said. “I wish we didn’t have to, but that’s the world we live in.”
The hybrid employee program would not replace the need for those officers, Thornbrugh said, but is the “next step” for the company that takes safety seriously. He noted that every QuikTrip has 24-hour monitoring, as well as the latest and best surveillance equipment.
According to Thornbrugh, QuikTrip has been testing the hybrid employee program for six months at a few locations in Wichita. There are visual cues that make it easy to differentiate between regular QT workers and the hybrid employees, who are armed, he said.
“Our employees like it, customers really like it, and we’re seeing all kinds of (security and crime-related) incidents just plummet,” Thornbrugh said. “Customers really like it that we’re trying something that’s making a difference.”
QuikTrip began advertising early this month for the new position, which pays about $35 an hour but requires a specific kind of job candidate. Thornbrugh said it was a challenge recruiting in Wichita for the job.
“We can find people with the qualifications and credentials (at the law enforcement-level), but they also have to buy into the QuikTrip culture and beliefs,” Thornbrugh said.
He said few people with weapons certifications and law enforcement training may be interested in doing the daily work of a convenience store, but “there’s the right person for this job, and we’re patient.” When asked about a timeframe for hiring the first hybrid employees, Thornbrugh said there was nothing set in stone, but it would be “sooner rather than later.”
“To us, it’s kind of like community policing,” Thornbrugh said. “A lot of times when you see an individual and talk to them, it’ll stop them from doing something foolish. Sometimes it won’t, and that’s when law enforcement comes in.
“We’re just going to have to take matters into our own hands and still utilize and partner with Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, but there’s not enough of them to do the job.”
$35 and hour. Sign me up man.
There’s a liquor store in Albuquerque
that’s been doing this for years.
No kidding! It's common sense, and plain facts. Criminals don't like hard work or they would have a job. Make it hard for them and they wont commit crime.
“Hybrid employees?” Any particular pair of races that they prefer in their desired crossbreed? The illiteracy today is astounding. Or did corporate management come up with that nauseating phrase?
Human and squash plant hybrid?
All you Okies, open carry, rumor has it $30+ per hour and I guess the handgun will be deductible.
Hey, I can work while armed - well I could if I were allowed to. Does that make me a “hybrid” employee? Can I file for federal gas-tax credits?
They should NOT be distinguishing them.
Let the thugs guess.
Otherwise, I *LIKE* it.
Quick trips are nice stores, glad they are doing this, but I fear the reason it’s hard to recruit is they are looking for people with police and or military credentials. your average Joe need not apply.
They’re wanting police to do the job. In many cities, preferred candidates for police department positions will have bachelor’s degrees, preferably in criminal justice, social work, psych., etc.
Why don’t they just let their employees concealed carry?
Is there a spelling and punctuation test, or just weapons proficiency?
Liability and insurance. An off-duty cop, moonlighting in a store, who shoots a robber is operating as a police officer, not as a store employee, when he opens fire.
The one by our house has turned into THUG central and now have a Police presence because of it.
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