STORM2K

Worker fired for trying to disarm robber

10-year veteran risked others' lives, firm says

By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News

The robbery passed in a blur – rough voices, barked orders, workers forced to the floor, a bag of money changing hands.

Then one of the robbers ordered the supervisor at the Richardson Long John Silver's to the back of the restaurant.

"He's going to kill me," the man recalled thinking. So he grabbed a hammer, turned and swung.

The robber fell, then fled, his accomplice with him. The bag of money lay on the floor.

A few days after the Sept. 18 robbery attempt, the supervisor got another shock: Officials at Long John Silver's fired him.

He'd risked his co-workers' lives and violated company policy, he said they told him.

A company spokesman declined to discuss specifics, acknowledging the attempted robbery at the Belt Line Road restaurant and the policy.

Spokesman Rick Maynard said, "Our policy outlines the steps that should be taken to prevent putting customers or employees at risk, including directing employees not to attempt to disarm a robber."

The decision stunned the fired supervisor, who asked that his name not be used because the robbers remain at large. And it surprised law enforcement officials.

"You know what? He might not have followed policy. But don't Monday-morning-quarterback someone whose life was threatened," said Richardson police Sgt. Kevin Perlich.

The supervisor, 46, said his fears overwhelmed him, and for good reason.

"They had my three employees on the floor," said the Dallas father of six who had worked for Long John Silver's for 10 years. "I gave them the money, but the dude who's supposed to have the gun, he orders me into the back.

"The only thing I could think is he was going to kill all of us," the fired worker said.

He'd been robbed on the street 25 years ago. He had handed over his money and offered his watch, but the robber shot him anyway.

"I had a flashback, and I was panicking. I knew I had to do something. I had seen a hammer in the back, and I grabbed it."

A few days later, he was called in by his boss and fired.

"I cooperated. I gave them the money. But they said because I hit one of the robbers, I violated company policy."

Let's all boycott Long John Silver's!!!

I bet this guy can probably sue for unlawful termination for something... Heck, maybe he can sue the bad guy for loss of wages and emotional suffering!!!! Sounds like a good idea to me.

Both the Long John Silver CEO...and this fella's boss need a brain analysis!


Eric

You know, it's one thing to give up the money when that's all the perps want. Most business owners tell employees that it's just not worth them risking their lives to try to defend a cash register. Money can be replaced, lives can't. THAT would be policy for a robbery -- don't put lives at risk by fighting...just give them the money.

But that's not the case here. I don't know how many times I've read about cases up in Houston where thieves go in to a store after hours, demanding money, and then they take the employees to a back room and shoot them.

I'd defend myself the same way that supervisor did. If it was just some crackhead nutjob demanding cash as I stood behind a counter, okay...he'd get the dough and then he'd probably be on his way in less than 10 seconds. But when you're taken to a back room, that changes everything. And when you're female and taken to a back room, HOOBOY, you better believe there'd be a hammer or something swinging his way. It would be STUPID for a company to fire someone for protecting his or her OWN LIFE.

Sounds like a clearcut lawsuit victory too me. Maybe more than one!!! Where's an ACLU lawyer when you need one!?!?!?!

How can a company favour a policy that benefits the criminals more than the victims? As if the robbery wasn't traumatic enough.

This is what happens when you put rules in place, but leave no room for "common sense" to be used when interpreting the rules. There are always exceptions.

Locally, we have a small lake that does not allow swimming, and there are no tresspassing signs. There is a sharp turn in the road just as it approaches the shore of the lake. Using the logic Long John Silvers used, if you lost control of your car during a rainstorm and it went into the lake, you could be busted for tresspassing and swimming in off limit waters, if you tried to swim to shore to avoid drowning.

The managers involved are complete morons.

The stupidest reason to terminate an employee I've ever heard.....assinine.

I can't count all the times in Georgia in which innocent restaurant or convienence store employees were gunned down AFTER complying with the armed robbers demands. In a horrible incident here in Douglasville several years ago...the store video showed the cold hearted killer shooting the manager as he's begging for his life...AFTER he gave the robber the money.

Long John Silver's management just doesn't get it: some punks rob businesses and kill innocent people just for the hell of it. Some are afraid they'll be recognized...some are so full of hate and anger they don't care...they'll kill even if you meet their demands.

I've enjoyed eating at Long John Silvers for many years, but have no intention of doing so again; not only because I vehemently disagree with their policy...but ALSO in case I'm there eating, and an attempted robbery occurs. If I'm fortunate enough to thwart the robbery using my training....Long John Silvers might decide to prosecute me....for defending myself and family.

Yes vote for me!!

CaptinCrunch wrote:Yes vote for me!!

Huh?

alicia-w wrote:Let's all boycott Long John Silver's!!!

I bet this guy can probably sue for unlawful termination for something... Heck, maybe he can sue the bad guy for loss of wages and emotional suffering!!!! Sounds like a good idea to me.

Technically he cannot. If the contract states as such, and he signed, itis legally binding. This is NOT my area of expertise in law, so I may be wrong...

An interesting twist would be how a court of law would deal with that contract in these circumstances. If it can be reasonably assumed that the poor guy not doing something would have resulted in serious injury or death to himself or his employees, I am not sure that the contract is enforcable. Would make an interesting case.

drudd1 wrote:An interesting twist would be how a court of law would deal with that contract in these circumstances. If it can be reasonably assumed that the poor guy not doing something would have resulted in serious injury or death to himself or his employees, I am not sure that the contract is enforcable. Would make an interesting case.

Agreed. But what the problem with that is this:

By taking action in such a situation such as this, you are putting lives at stake...

If I were the fired manager...I'd just find myself another job and thank the lord I was still alive. I once resigned from a security job because my life was in danger...and the client refused to allow me to carry a firearm on patrol.

Other jobs can be found, but only cats have nine lives....once your dead, it's for keeps.

Won't be hard for me NOT to go to Long John Silver's for a dinner ... don't like the food anyway...

But what happened to the fired manager is just another prime example of the IN-justice system at work ...

I've seen some really dumb cases actually go to court and won (one PRIME example of a dumb case right now is the 700th homerun that Barry Bonds' hit and the ball ... )

The fired manager shouldn't have ANY problem finding a lawyer that will take this case, and he SHOULD win ...

Ooops, I get I was the only one that was undecided in this one. I can see it from both ways, he did what a lot of people would have done. But, he did put lives at stake when he did this, especially his own. And if this is company policy, as stated in a contract or any type of legal document, then what can he do about being fired. If he directly went against a company policy, that is grounds for terminations. But hey, i still believe that he was brave and did the right thing.

I don't see how he let the guy get away. In that situation I would have laid him out and gone after his buddy if I could. You never go to the cooler or the back. Too bad it was one of my favorite fast food places to eat. I bet I have been eating there for 25 years now and it ends this way.

Businesses should have a trap door in the floor right in front of the register. One tap on a foot button, it opens up, and down he goes. sharpened sticks in the bottom are optional.

YUM foods owns Long John Silver's. Here's the man in charge:

A&W All-American Food and Long John Silver's:
Steve Davis, President and Chief Operating Officer

I would direct my comment here for him:
http://www.yum.com/contact/default.htm or by calling: 1-866-298-6986

Let's express our dissatisfaction with their treatment of this employee who was defending his life.
...Jennifer...