Posted on 08/02/2009 10:36:30 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
SEATTLE – A Seattle bank teller has lost his job because he ran down a would-be bank robber and held him until police arrived. Jim Nicholson, 30, who had worked for more than two years at a Key Bank branch near the Seattle Center, says he understands the bank's strict policy that employees comply with robbery demands and avoid confrontations.
But he told The Seattle Times that instinct took over when a thin man in a beanie cap, dark clothing and sunglasses pushed a black backpack across the bank counter on Tuesday and demanded money.
Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lunged toward the man and demanded to see a weapon. The man bolted for the door with Nicholson in pursuit.
He chased him several blocks before knocking him to the ground with the help of a passer-by. Nicholson then held the man until police arrived.
On Thursday, Nicholson was fired. Key Bank spokeswoman Anne Foster declined to comment on Nicholson and his actions.
Police and the FBI discourage such heroics. Bank tellers are trained to get robbers out the door quickly and are advised against possibly escalating a situation over money that's federally insured.
"They tell us that we're just supposed to comply, but my instincts kicked in and I did what's best to stop the guy," he said. "I thought if I let him go he would rob more banks and cause more problems."
Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said the best course for citizens is to be good witnesses to crimes.
"When confronted by a violent criminal, it is best to comply unless they feel their personal safety is in jeopardy."
The would-be robber, 29-year-old transient, has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for theft and robbery, according to court records. Charges were not immediately filed.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
NEVER put your ass on the line for someone else’s property.
He should get a BONUS!
So by capturing him, Nicholson has prevented a potentially violent thug from being on the street where his next act may have to been to kill someone.
We all know the guy has that in his background by now, with his record.
Somewhere there is a person who will live or not be harmed at least because Jim Nicholson did what any brave person would do.
And the cops say just roll over.
They want us to be victims. That way more government control can be put in place in an effort to “protect us”. If we go around protecting ourselves, then that ruins everything the political elite has been striving to attain.
The guy obviously did the right thing and he’s a better man for it. But the bank has the same policy that every bank has.
I work in a bank and I would do the right thing in a situation like this.
That may or may not comply with the company policy depending on the circumstance.
This fellow has serious round ones. LOL!. IMPRESSIVE! And in Seattle none the less. The police department or security industry needs to offer this man a job. What a upstanding man. I can see though that banks have their policies to protect others. But in the good ole’ days this man would be Clint Eastwood in a western or a good ole’ cops and robbers film. Good job young man!
He should get a better job with a better employer.
If the perp had been in jail like he should have been, the bank employee would still have his job. There are lots of people in "the justice system" who should be fired instead.
Yes. I really hope and expect this young man will receive several other job offers.
Yeah, that's what the Founding Fathers would say.
Well, at least the bank gave the perp an excellent reason to sue them. The bank employee could have seriously hurt the robber and there is no telling how much “emotional damage” the perp if suffering right now after having been caught. “Violent” and “thin” criminals wearing “beanie caps” are the worst kind. Everyone should just concentrate on being a “good witness” when confronted by one of them.
complicity-is-courage alert.
I'd say he got the perp out of there pretty durn fast.........LOL!
This is how those in power within the State want all of us citizens to be. Scared little children, who will do what we are told, and die when they tell us to die. Fight it, people. Esp in your local communities. Pay attention, because they are teaching this crap to our children in school. "Roll up in a tight ball and wait for someone in authority to come and help." Whether you die or not is irrelevant to them.
This then can be viewed as a government subsidy to the crooked, and or perhaps the desparate. An incentive, if you will, to rob banks. Just one of many perverse incentives that are created when the marketplace is interfered with, even with the best of intentions.
It also makes the marketplace a more dangerous place for law abiding citizens, and forces an increase in social services such as law enforcement.
A perfect object lesson in unintended consequences, of the solution exacerbating the problem.
Agreed. Especially when it is well known that you'll be canned for your trouble.
***Police and the FBI discourage such heroics.***
Just like they told us to sit still when terrorists hijack a plane. How’d that work out?
“Yes. I really hope and expect this young man will receive several other job offers”
I bet he will. It takes a go getter to do what he did. Bank training tries to drill in the passive approach. He knew he would get fired but he did the right thing anyway.
There is still hope for our nation; as I think it is filled with people like this guy
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