10-16-2013, 08:31 PM
Quash a crime against your employer, get fired
A New Hampshire gas station clerk who thwarted an attempted robbery (pulled his concealed weapon on a would-be robber who'd pulled a knife; chased the robber off) was fired because company policy prohibits staff from carrying firearms.
The incident was caught on surveillance video.
![[Image: n-BEAR-large570.jpg?6]](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1410230/thumbs/n-BEAR-large570.jpg?6)
29 year-old Bear Cothran
Cothran told CBS Boston he had a gun because there had been numerous robberies in Nashua targeting convenience stores like the one where he worked, and that it was just a matter of time until it happened to him. He'd been on the job for 10 years and has a concealed carry permit.
Nouria said in a statement Wednesday that it instructs its cashiers to give thieves what they ask for during a robbery attempt to resolve the conflict peacefully and quickly.
The company said its policies are similar to others in the industry and consistent with the advice offered by police.
CBS Boston reports Nashua Police Lt. Denis Linehan said that while he wants to be sure clerks have proper training before arming themselves, he believes Cothran was within his rights.
"The clerk acted appropriately. He did fear for his life...he was in close proximity to a deadline weapon," Linehan said.
Cothran told CBS Boston: "I would rather find a new job than either be in a hospital bed or in a coffin."
Sources:
http://nashua.patch.com/groups/police-an...-my-family
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5...on-robber/
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10 years on the job and he was fired right after the incident (though he'd proactively filed a report about it with the company and the store and district managers lobbied against his termination).
The company has a clear zero-tolerance policy regarding guns, of which Bear was aware.
If you were the company decision-maker or HR Manager, would you have fired him?
A New Hampshire gas station clerk who thwarted an attempted robbery (pulled his concealed weapon on a would-be robber who'd pulled a knife; chased the robber off) was fired because company policy prohibits staff from carrying firearms.
The incident was caught on surveillance video.
29 year-old Bear Cothran
Cothran told CBS Boston he had a gun because there had been numerous robberies in Nashua targeting convenience stores like the one where he worked, and that it was just a matter of time until it happened to him. He'd been on the job for 10 years and has a concealed carry permit.
Nouria said in a statement Wednesday that it instructs its cashiers to give thieves what they ask for during a robbery attempt to resolve the conflict peacefully and quickly.
The company said its policies are similar to others in the industry and consistent with the advice offered by police.
CBS Boston reports Nashua Police Lt. Denis Linehan said that while he wants to be sure clerks have proper training before arming themselves, he believes Cothran was within his rights.
"The clerk acted appropriately. He did fear for his life...he was in close proximity to a deadline weapon," Linehan said.
Cothran told CBS Boston: "I would rather find a new job than either be in a hospital bed or in a coffin."
Sources:
http://nashua.patch.com/groups/police-an...-my-family
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5...on-robber/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 years on the job and he was fired right after the incident (though he'd proactively filed a report about it with the company and the store and district managers lobbied against his termination).
The company has a clear zero-tolerance policy regarding guns, of which Bear was aware.
If you were the company decision-maker or HR Manager, would you have fired him?