Posted on 02/11/2011 7:10:10 PM PST by marktwain
LAYTON -- The shoplifter smashed Gabriel Stewart up against a wall. It didn't take him long to realize that pressure against his lower back was from a loaded gun held by a desperate man who didn't want to go to jail.
The gunman had a firm grip on Stewart's shoulder, telling him and three of his Walmart co-workers, "Don't make me do this."
"Absolutely, time stopped," Stewart told KSL News. "I didn't know what to do."
Instantly, Shawn Ray and Justin Richins kicked into gear, spinning the gunman around. Lori Poulsen ripped the gun away and secured it. They all held onto the man until police arrived minutes later.
The four Layton Walmart employees felt it was mission accomplished. Police officers told them they had done everything right.
But a week later, all four were fired from their jobs. Walmart said their actions had violated company policy and put their fellow workers and shoppers at risk.
(Excerpt) Read more at ksl.com ...
As someone else said - blame the legal system. You see - WalMart has a huge “SUE US” sign painted across each of those massive SuperCenters across the country - followed by huge Dollar Signs...
Had something gone wrong and someone got hurt (either an employee, customer, etc.), there WOULD HAVE BEEN lawsuits - and they would not have been on the crazed and armed shoplifter - it would have been against WalMart.
Further - Because of the $$$ painted on the company, courts would rule against WalMart in such a case. That is why they have such a sissy policy. Even if a gunman were to enter the store and start shooting - WalMart employees are forbidden from taking ANY action to stop the circumstances, beyond calling 911.. and even then, some over zealous WalMart manager might fire the employee for violating their policy on contacting the police (there are specific individuals in a store “authorized” to contact police ... or at least that use to be the case).
WalMart has been sued and lost over NOT clearing away ice/snow from walkways and parking lots. They have been sued FOR clearing away ice/snow from walkways and parking lots... they can’t win either way.
WalMart has been sued and lost by shoplifters who hurt THEMSELVES trying to get away from store security...
I am no WalMart fan - but they too have been victimized by an out-of-control court system.
Exactly. WalMart's security guard policy is not unique to WalMart, it is standard business practice. It seriously sucks for the heroic employees who are fired for doing the right thing, but it reduces costs, and that keeps businesses in business.
I bet that the employment contract signed by those WalMart employees specifically prohibits their actions.
Maybe there is some easy answer here, but I don't see one. A law that prevented the firing of security guards in these cases might reduce theft, and it would protect heroes from being punished for their good deeds, but it would raise insurance costs.
Then you had better quit shipping at all major retailers... Just check out the labels. The one "advantage" WalMart has - a lot of their store-brand foods (particularly canned goods and frozen seafood) are from China as well... that is enough to make me want to puke.
I worked 12 in one of their warehouses. Their policy is that you simply couldn’t defend yourself. You had to take the bullet to keep your job. No thanks.
Walmart's policies seem alien to my common sense thinking.
I cannot spend my money to support this type of corporate ignorance.
Better to be fired and alive, than DEAD with your widow and children getting your employment benefits.
And if these people had worked for any other major retailer and done this, they would have been fired as well. All major retailers have the same policies.
Why is that? Blame the legal system.
Whenever I encounter these people, I get a mental image of them sitting at their desk with newspaper articles about the Mormon Church covering the walls. ‘Mormon caught Shoplifting’, ‘Mormon Man gets Parking Ticket’, etc. You get the picture.
Yes, there is something definitely wrong with someone who focuses so much of their time and energy on a group that only wishes to worship how they choose.
I cannot imagine a life so small where you'd actually look forward to waking up in the morning only to frantically search the newspapers and TV in hopes of finding something negative to post about Mormons.
You rarely (if ever) see them post anything negative about Muslims or the threat that our country faces from Islamic radicalism.
Better to lose your job than lose your life, which seemed
to be the options here. I just wonder what effect this
will have on loss prevention efforts in Wal Marts.
It's good to be a grammar nazi, right?
Dogs are barking in my back yard.
There are five dogs in the yard.
How many dogs are barking?
My answer: It could be two, three, four, or five dogs. Dogs is plural, but no number was specified.
Your answer: All the dogs must be barking, because "dogs" must mean "all dogs."
Do you understand now?
Yet, if I shout over at you “Shut your d====d dogs up or I’ll shoot them” you are going to certainly take that as a threat to shoot ALL or 1 or 2 or 3 ~ etc.
You’re right about one thing: I would take any threat of violence from you very seriously.
Amen
My SIL works at this store on off the day of the incident.
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