Posted on 11/13/2007 11:32:03 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Fired for doing the right thing, that's what a Lee County man says happened to him after he turned in one of the county's most wanted fugitives.
"I thought I did the right thing," said Kirk Zahradka.
Newspaper photographs of Crimestoppers most wanted tipped Kirk Zahradka off. "Bunch of us seen the electricians name on it, picture on it," says Zahradka. The man in one of the pictures, Stanley Forcier, was his co-worker. "I called Crimestoppers reported him, got the case number," said Kirk Zahradka. That phone call did them both in. "He got arrested," said Kirk Zahradka. Zahradka got fired the same day. "She (his boss) handed me my paycheck said I was detrimental to the company and I shouldn't have done it like that. Her son said that I just should have keep my nose out of other people's business," said Kirk Zahradka.
Zahradka worked at Advanced Machine Repair off Metro Parkway in Fort Myers for six years. "I've never done anything to the company. She said I was fired. I told just her I can't believe you are firing me over this," said Kirk Zahradka.
He claims his boss knew about his co-workers trouble with the law and claims they even hung up the Crimestoppers photos at his work. WINK News wanted to know how a call to Crimestoppers justified firing someone. His boss, Linda Wright says they had other internal issues with Zahradka. Wright says Zahradka had also been bad mouthing management.
Attorney Dennis Webb who doesn't represent anyone in the story says right or wrong, Florida law can't help. "It's the classic no good deed goes unpunished situation, I don't think these people have any recourse," says Webb.
Now Zahradka is looking for a new job.
“Harboring a fugitive”
If a boss admits knowing about it, there could be charges that should be made.
she is the one that is detrimental to the company
Is it harboring or accessory after the fact? The DA needs to charge this witch. The evidence is on videotape, lol.
I would think that "Florida Law" would at least cover that -
In the meantime, I hope the guy gets a pro-bono lawyer and gets compensated big time, even though I don't like suing over things - of course, the lawyer would get 60%, the govt 50% on the entire judgment (can't deduct legal fees) and the poor slob would end up owing the IRS 10%! No joke...it happens
Big problem with both thieves is that they started looking for who the thief could be. They were both exposed.
Talk about "egg on your face."
I thought there might be something illegal in bosses admission. The boss should pay.
Oh,... right!
I forgot for a minute, FR is a family friendly site.
Why did the guy say anything to his employer about his calling Crimestoppers in the first place?
dumb, dumb, dumb.
How did the Boss know this guy called the confidential tipline Crimestoppers? He had to have been talking about it. I certainly don’t agree with what the company did but I’m thinking there’s more to this story. Perhaps female boss and warrant guy had a very....ahem.....close relationship?
If I was on the jury, this guy would own the company.
The residents of Fort Myers can certainly voice their opinion by boycotting the bad guys. That would be “Advanced Machine Repair off Metro Parkway in Fort Myers.”
If it’s on tape, the boss should be charged!
The son of the boss also chimed in against the tipster. There probably is more to the story, but the boss looks really bad.
What an idiot “boss”. They’re destined to fail with someone like this at the wheel.
It is on a Fox News tape that the boss knew about the fugitive.
If this guy was a federal fugitive isn’t there a federal whistle blower law?
BUMP!
If state laws were enforced and the boss who did know he was wanted but didn’t herself turn him in, there may not be much company left, assuming she is the owner. Not to mention, the press coverage of the firing would affect their business.
I’m not too sure what grounds he could sue under. It’s probably a small company, fewer than 50 employees, and not bound by a lot of laws that govern larger companies. Other than civil rights laws, in most small businesses a boss can fire an employee because s/he doesn’t like the employee’s hairstyle. These are, however, perhaps the stupidest and most venal business people I’ve ever heard of who’ve managed to remain in business.
Sorry Kirk, only BAD behavior is rewarded.
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