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Bank teller foils holdup, nabs suspect — loses job
Seattle Times ^ | August 1, 2009 | Jennifer Sullivan

Posted on 08/02/2009 6:59:16 PM PDT by reaganaut1

Jim Nicholson knew he should have just handed over the cash.

But when the thin man in a beanie cap, dark clothing and sunglasses pushed a black backpack across the bank counter and demanded money, Nicholson says his instincts took over.

After more than two years working as a teller at the Key Bank branch in Lower Queen Anne, Nicholson clearly understood the bank's strict policy of quickly complying with robbers' demands and avoiding confrontation.

Instead, Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lunged toward the robber and demanded to see a weapon. Surprised, the would-be bank robber backed up and then bolted for the door, with Nicholson on his heels.

Nicholson, 30, chased the man for several blocks before knocking him to the ground with the help of a passer-by. Nicholson then held him until police arrived.

That was Tuesday.

On Thursday, Nicholson was fired.

In a state that consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally in bank robberies, what Nicholson did was not only ill-advised, according to police and the FBI, it was all but unheard of. Bank tellers are trained to get robbers out the door as quickly as possible and are advised against being a hero over money that's federally insured.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: bankrobber; bankrobbery; biden; dongraves; hero; jimnicholson; keybank; seattle
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Jim Nicholson is a hero. Maybe Washington state has so many bank robberies because "bank tellers are trained to get robbers out the door as quickly as possible and are advised against being a hero over money that's federally insured".

Given its current policies, there must be jobs better suited for him than teller for Key Bank.

1 posted on 08/02/2009 6:59:16 PM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1
Instead, Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lunged toward the robber and demanded to see a weapon

"I'm sorry sir. This bank requires that we see a weapon before you can rob us. Just a formality, I assure you."

2 posted on 08/02/2009 7:00:57 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (This tagline excerpted. To read more, click on MyOverratedBlog.com)
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To: reaganaut1

Why is anyone surprised? At a national level, we are apologizing to dictators and fretting over the emotional well-being of terrorists. It’s the ghost of the times.


3 posted on 08/02/2009 7:01:15 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: reaganaut1

If I owned the bank I would have given him a bonus as I handed him his walking papers.

I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be the one to tell his wife and kids that he was killed over just a bag of money that wasn’t even his.


4 posted on 08/02/2009 7:11:07 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Overproduction, one of the top five worries for the American farmer.)
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To: reaganaut1
Ain't no room for any cowboys in this society anymore.

Too bad.

5 posted on 08/02/2009 7:15:22 PM PDT by elkfersupper (Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: reaganaut1
Jim KNEW the bank's non-confrontational policy... and did it anyway... and in doing this... he may have put other tellers at risk... because bank robbers are more likely to shoot first and ask questions later now...

I'm sure someone will offer him a job in another career.

6 posted on 08/02/2009 7:16:31 PM PDT by John123 (Turn on your teleprompter Obama and read your lips... "No New Taxes!!")
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2306670/posts


7 posted on 08/02/2009 7:19:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: reaganaut1

And the wussification of America continues...


8 posted on 08/02/2009 7:20:08 PM PDT by lightman (Adjutorium nostrum (+) in nomine Domini.)
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To: lightman

Wusification. Totally. Disgusting. We need more cowboys. I bet this isn’t the law in Alaska. And I just bet that Alaska is NOT in the top ten robbery states. hmmm, coincidental?


9 posted on 08/02/2009 7:30:06 PM PDT by bboop (obama, little o, not a Real God)
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To: John123

[Jim KNEW the bank’s non-confrontational policy... and did it anyway... and in doing this... he may have put other tellers at risk... because bank robbers are more likely to shoot first and ask questions later now...]

Thieves are always more likely to commit robberies when they know the policy is for employees to instantly comply with demands.

If the policy was for employees to always resist robbers and pull shotguns out of their drawers and shoot robbers in the head, you’d pretty quickly see a whole lot fewer robbery attempts.


10 posted on 08/02/2009 7:36:58 PM PDT by spinestein (The answer is 42.)
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To: reaganaut1

This entire country is going “anti-man.”

(And this is coming from a woman.)


11 posted on 08/02/2009 7:39:40 PM PDT by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
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To: spinestein
If the policy was for employees to always resist robbers and pull shotguns out of their drawers and shoot robbers in the head

Are you volunteering?

12 posted on 08/02/2009 7:40:27 PM PDT by John123 (Turn on your teleprompter Obama and read your lips... "No New Taxes!!")
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To: reaganaut1
Someone please post the name of the bank here. It is time for this to stop. All major corporations, hear this, we the public are not going to stand for this any more. This includes Randall's Grocery Stores -- they just fired a guy here in Texas for grabbing a thief and the purse he stole and returning it to the lady from whom he stole it. Randall's fired him. Anyone who has any sense at all and still shops at Randall's must be shamed into not spending a PENNY in that store. All of you want someone to do something? I'm doing it. I am now organizing a "You're Not Firing Another Worker for Stopping a Robbery" campaign. If interested, PM me.

We need to get some lawyers on our side and sue these companies for terminating people who successfully stop robberies. Next, we need to go after ANY lawyer who defends a company in such a termination action. The name of the law firm and the lawyer needs to be published when such cases occur. As many family members of said lawyers also need to be published. Don't tell me something can't be done about this -- I don't believe it any more.

It is time to take action. I need some PMs from people who agree and let's try to formulate a plan of action. If someone takes action and dies in the process, that person is a hero, not a villain. The villain is the one who robs and the one who kills outside the law. When someone acting within the law is hurt or killed, they are not to be vilified but heralded as unselfish, self-sacrificing and their families are to be honored. On the other hand, the criminal involved is to be caught, prosecuted and then executed for killing or hurting someone (if severe injury). The family of that criminal is also to be vilified and shamed publicly, lawyers be damned.

If this doesn't stop, we are going to become a nation of criminals preying on the innocent with lawyers living in gated communities or fortresses to protect their families. Send me some PMS. No interest, I let it drop. Interest, let's get it organized. The time is now. List every single place of business you know who has the policy of terminating someone who stops a thief or robber. Let's get going!

13 posted on 08/02/2009 7:44:04 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: reaganaut1
"What is a 'gub' ?"


14 posted on 08/02/2009 7:45:28 PM PDT by FreepShop1
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To: John123
I'm sure someone will offer him a job in another career.

Jim should not face any hardship in looking for another job for doing this at all. Anyone who posts comments about putting others at risk in stopping robberies needs responses from others. Show some backbone, people! It is time to stop sitting back and letting someone else do everything. Let this guy know we don't need this attitude toward employees who have stopped a robbery and protected company assets, and in this case, lives...by running the robber off.

15 posted on 08/02/2009 7:46:51 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: FreepShop1
He made a meager living selling meagers......
16 posted on 08/02/2009 7:46:58 PM PDT by cmsgop (Another proud graduate of the Larry Storch school of posting)
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To: reaganaut1

Most banks have the same policy. I think it’s based on the fear of lawsuits.


17 posted on 08/02/2009 7:48:23 PM PDT by RockinRight (Obama: Math is hard, so we just make sh-t up.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Thanks for the link and name of bank -- Everyone...pass the word. Anyone with an account at KEY BANK in Washington State or anywhere they have a branch, CANCEL IT! Let's not even have a boycott. Absolutely no more business transacted with that bank! Have some backbone, people!
18 posted on 08/02/2009 7:51:01 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: RockinRight
I think it’s based on the fear of lawsuits.

Let them have a fear of customers. Nothing like a run on bank accounts to get a policy changed VERY quickly. Let's go!

19 posted on 08/02/2009 7:51:58 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Balding_Eagle
A bank robbery is foiled.
20 posted on 08/02/2009 8:12:21 PM PDT by myknowledge (F-22 Raptor: World's Largest Distributor of Sukhoi parts!)
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