Seattle bank teller chases robber, loses job

AP ^ | 8-2-09

[My Favorite Headache]

SEATTLE – A Seattle bank teller has lost his job because he ran down a would-be bank robber and held him until police arrived. Jim Nicholson, 30, who had worked for more than two years at a Key Bank branch near the Seattle Center, says he understands the bank's strict policy that employees comply with robbery demands and avoid confrontations.

But he told The Seattle Times that instinct took over when a thin man in a beanie cap, dark clothing and sunglasses pushed a black backpack across the bank counter on Tuesday and demanded money.

Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lunged toward the man and demanded to see a weapon. The man bolted for the door with Nicholson in pursuit.

He chased him several blocks before knocking him to the ground with the help of a passer-by. Nicholson then held the man until police arrived.

On Thursday, Nicholson was fired. Key Bank spokeswoman Anne Foster declined to comment on Nicholson and his actions.

Police and the FBI discourage such heroics. Bank tellers are trained to get robbers out the door quickly and are advised against possibly escalating a situation over money that's federally insured.

"They tell us that we're just supposed to comply, but my instincts kicked in and I did what's best to stop the guy," he said. "I thought if I let him go he would rob more banks and cause more problems."

Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said the best course for citizens is to be good witnesses to crimes.

"When confronted by a violent criminal, it is best to comply unless they feel their personal safety is in jeopardy."

The would-be robber, 29-year-old transient, has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for theft and robbery, according to court records. Charges were not immediately filed.

[Mark was here]

If it is Free Money, simply reprinted by the Feds, why not simply give it away?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

This story is all wrong! The happy ending will be: the robber will sue the teller and his employer for use of excessive force, and win; the bank will file a cross complaint against the teller; and win! The teller will never get another job. The robber will loudly complain of his innocence and victimhood. A Federal judge will declare him innocent and release him. He will then hire a Public Relations firm and go on the TV circuit making close to 5 million dollars. The robber will then capitalize on his recognition and celebrity status and win public office. He will gain numerous fees from talk shows on how he turned his life around. As a public official he will make millions from bribes and pension funds. He will write a book and be mentioned as a possible presidential contender. Finally he will retire, a movie will be made of his life and he will die and go to glory where according to some beliefs since he repented he will sit on the right hand of God.

The teller crushed by adversity, loss of family and friends will finally die of a broken heart. Since he did not forgive the robber and actually humiliated him the teller did not go to the good place.

[max americana]

That’s what the FBI and cops want: let the criminal do it over and over again and allow the cops to do their jobs...right after donut time.

[bigbob]

Hope the bank that fired him is the next one to FAIL and the hotshots in charge are the first to hit the street.

[raybbr]

Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said the best course for citizens is to be good witnesses to crimes.

Proof that police are no deterrent to crime.

WTF is wrong with people?

[TheOldLady]

NEVER put your ass on the line for someone else’s property.

I hope that you're not a police officer, not in the military.

[Oldpuppymax]

Apparently Nicholson hasn’t been paying attention to the acting-president: surrender FIRST, you can always lie and think up excuses later.

[4woodenboats]

I’m sure glad neither of you are my neighbor, and especially glad you weren’t when I lived on a block with many small children, including mine.

[pnh102]

There's a huge difference between defending someone's children, even at the cost of your own life, which is always the right thing to do, and putting your life on the line for an entity that just doesn't give a damn what happens to you, and which will punish you for doing so.

If that is how an employer treats its employees, then said employer doesn't deserve the benefit of having employees who care.

[4woodenboats]

How about someone's wife? My ex was a teller for 17 years, and yes, they got robbed at one she worked at, and at gunpoint. There was a rash of holdups in the area, so for all I know that one just came from another hold up.

And WTH does it matter if someone's threatened on their lawn or place of employment?

That teller obviously realized that the perp was very likely to rob again if he got away. He didn't stick his thumb up his azz and think "no one cares about me, so I'm not going to care if this crackhead gets a gun and kills someone next time"

He took the punk down, and should get an award, not fired or emasculated.

[bankcritic]

I think this guy just snapped. He clearly has had enough of the current state of affairs in the country and decided he wouldn’t be a victim anymore. As a previous poster said “Big Round Ones” on this guy.