Bank teller foils holdup, nabs suspect — loses job

[rsmith6621]

By Jennifer Sullivan

Seattle Times staff reporter

Jim Nicholson says he got "a thrill" from pursuing a bank robber in Lower Queen Anne.

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.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009579648_teller01m.html

[vadawg]

1. brave but foolish, this could have ended in a lot of deaths

if the robber was armed, much better to pay and be a good witness, i totally understand the policies put in place by banks etc etc.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. How wrong is this?

He should get a medal.

I hope he'll get a much better job, at a bank that appreciates the risks he took.

[bbinacan]

3. Well said. n/t

[vadawg]

4. no bank will apreciate the risks he took, unfortunately its better to pay up than fight back

the banks are shit scared of the liability that ensues from their employees tackling robbers in case some bystander or employee is killed.

[timeforpeace]

10. Oh they appreciate the risks he took, that's why they fired him. No brainer. Ever hear of insurance?

[WillowTree]

22. Self-delete

Reading comprehension tood a brief vacation. Sorry 'bout that.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

43. It's obvious you don't deal with many violent criminals.

[vadawg]

45. why would you say that, i deal with violent criminals on a dailly basis

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

51. Think about it, you'll probably figure it out.

[vadawg]

58. nope cant see where you get that from my post.... i guess cops dont do nuance well

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

62. Take a look at your recent posts.

[kirby]

6. If you were in that bank

and the robber started shooting customers, you might understand the policy.

But I still would not of fired him.

[anonymous171]

12. All he did was ask the robber to show his weapon. That was hardly an invitation for violence.

[vadawg]

14. obviously you dont deal with many violent criminals

to a lot of them just asking to see a gun would be a major invitation to violence, to some it would be disrespectful or tantamount to you calling them a liar, thats why the banks have policies in place that tell their tellers not to engage in conversation with robbers, just to hand over the cash as quickly and quietly and with no fuss.. bank robbers on a whole tend to either be cold professionals or desperate people who might panic...

[emilyg]

34. Yes it was.

[Iggo]

38. That's not all he did.

:rofl:

[leeroysphitz]

39. Are you out of your fucking mind?

Or just being sarcastic?

[Lex]

7. Because IF he'd gotten hurt doing this, the bank would be liable.

The bank doesn't want any heros.

The money is insured and can be replaced. The bank teller's life cannot be replaced, and he could've been killed or seriously injured, and placed others at risk in the chase.

[nini]

8. because it was against company policy and a very dangerous thing to do

which protects customers and employees from harm if he fails at his attempt to be a hero.

What if there were other robbers hiding back in the background that would have done God knows what if this happened?

It was stupid regardless of whether he was successful or not.

[chrisa]

9. I disagree.

He risked not only his life, but the lives around him. I would be outraged if he was fired for handing over the money, but even one life cannot be measured in a dollar amount.

[RB TexLa]

13. How many medals should he get if the criminal had pulled out a gun and shot four or three other

employees and said there's my gun and left?

A medal for every dead person because of his action?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Not wrong at all.

He knew it was against policy. He deserves to be fired.

Why? He needlessly put everybody's life in jeopardy.

Studies show over and over that violence is much, much lower when people coooperate with robbers.

[Generic Brad]

36. OMG! I'm disagreeing with California Peggy!

I respect you immensely. You have long been one of my favorite DU'ers. But I strongly have to disagree with you on this.

People could have been killed as a result of this teller's response. The fact that all turned out well in the end does not excuse the breach of company policy. As much as I hate to see a teller fired over a heroic act, his actions could have jeopardized the lives of everyone he worked with at his branch. If it had turned out poorly and someone had been injured, he would have been fired and no one would blink at his termination.

Maybe I look at this differently because I work in banking. Give the robber their money, no one gets hurt, insurance covers the loss and law enforcement eventually catches the bad guys. I don't want to see my co-workers injured or killed because someone decided to play the hero. If the bank in question had not fired that employee, they would have been encouraging all of their tellers to risk lives unnecessarily. That must have been one of the hardest but necessary firings in history.

[Adsos Letter]

37. I agree with you; and in this case he wasn't fired over a heroic act...

but for an extremely irresponsible one.

[LisaL]

52. You don't know that no one would get hurt if the money were handed

over either. What if this happened? What if that happened? Well it didn't. I don't understand why bank had to fire the guy for apprehending the suspect.

[RandomThoughts]

5. There is something to learn there.

If we bust up the big banks by just regulation, if we remove their claims to run economic systems or skim money without transparency through complexity or monopoly price setting.

They will be under instructions not to try and stop the people.

Although I think bank robbery is wrong, I also think bank robbery is wrong.

[anonymous171]

11. More proof that bankers are scum. nt

[progdonkey]

16. I understand the bank's position, but bad PR move...

If I were the bank manager/owner, I would've had a meeting of employees (and sent out a memo for other branch managers to do likewise) and said, "While it's wonderful that, in this instance, the suspect was unarmed and Mr. Nicholson was able to subdue him for the police, we have a very strict policy in these matters: give the robber the money and get him out of the bank and away from our customers as quickly as possible. What Mr. Nicholson did was both very brave and yet just as foolish and reckless--had the robber been armed, it could've turned out much worse. But because in this particular case his gamble paid off, we will not be firing him--but he should consider himself very lucky. The next employee to follow Mr. Nicholson's example, however, will be swiftly and summarily relieved of his or her position at this bank."

And I'm sure some people will say, "Hey, no one's ever going to rob that bank again!" but they would be very wrong. The bank will be robbed again, only the next time, the robbers will make sure to be armed.

[vadawg]

17. problem is, this road has already been travelled, thats why theres a policy

companies only have policies in place because someone somewhere at sometime already screwed up, if they let nicholson slide then how can they possibly enforce the rule next time or the next time after that, unfortunately for nicholson the bank has a very strict policy in effect due to whats happened in the past and he broke their rules, in my job when someone screws up an SOP is written and it forever unofficially bears your name, if its a firable offense then its a fireable offense..

[TwixVoy]

20. Yea damn right

because we KNOW that giving a criminal the cash means he won't start shooting right after.

Kind of like those bastard fools during a 9/11 flight who didn't have the brains to sit down and not resist the terrorists.

[WillowTree]

24. Breathtakingly ignorant post, that.

Your Mama must be so proud.

[TwixVoy]

29. It's called sarcasm

[RobinA]

21. Sounds About Right

It is truly bad PR to fire this guy. Get him off the teller window or something.

[Zomby Woof]

18. Jim Nicholson is delusional

His little vigilante fantasy was for naught.

Banks are not worth risking your life or others' lives. They have insurance and reserves for these occurrences.

Maybe his 'heroics' will serve him better when he lands the night manager job at a 7-Eleven in Renton.

[TwixVoy]

19. We are a nation of cowards

and criminals (and mega corporation executives) know it.

When we get pushed, treated like shit, or have crimes committed against us the "correct" american reaction is to lie down and take it. Anyone who stands up to it is automatically scorned.

[vadawg]

23. so i guess you are okay with vigilantes dealing with criminals

seeing as they dont lie down to criminals, how far shoulf people go in dealing with the criminals, you okay with the neighbourhoods stringing up gang bangers from lamposts, or car thiefs being disembowled, not sure what you expect the average joe public to do..

[TwixVoy]

28. I expect the average joe public

to do what this guy did, or what those people did on that particular 9/11 flight.

A vigilante is a person who is typically NOT the direct victim of a crime, and attempts to do the work of the police with out being a cop.

When you ARE the victim of a crime, and you are currently in the moment of being subject to that crime, you are DAMN RIGHT it is ok to deal with your attacker if you see the opportunity to do so. It was clear that this teller sized up this guy and realized he was just a low life punk who couldn't hold his own in a fight. That made him fair game.

[dansolo]

40. Technically, the teller was not the victim of the crime

The money was the bank's, not the teller's, so according to your own definition, the teller was being a vigilante. Policies like that have been put in place for a reason.

[LisaL]

49. Not a victim? Hello? If the suspect did have a gun, and shot at him,

would the bank be the victim or the teller?
Of course the teller is a victim.

[NutmegYankee]

64. Oh that's cute..Technically?

In the meantime, the teller is the one experiencing the violence, and possible death, but they are not the victim. If that's the case, then shouldn't the teller not technically be scared? And yet they always report that they are afraid of being killed. Explain that!

[Zomby Woof]

55. 911911911911911

911911911911911911911911911

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

44. Vigilante? Please tell me you are trying to make a joke.

[vadawg]

46. i am making the point that being the big man and fighting back isnt always the best idea

hell we actually encourage people to just hand their wallets/purses over and get a good description, id rather work a robbery and be able to talk to you than be doing a death notification anyday.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

50. Sounded like you were calling him a vigilante.

[LisaL]

53. Right. And what are the chances of ever seeing your wallet again,

really? I sure as hell never saw mine after it was stolen.

[vadawg]

59. i dont think your wallet is more important than your life, do you??

[LisaL]

61. I didn't say that.

I am however doubtful a "good description" of a suspect is going to do you much good. What are the rates for solving of theft/robbery crimes?

[anonymous171]

25. Exactly. nt

[nini]

56. In this situation anyone who stands up like he did is endangering others.

the problem with your theory is other innocent people are put in harm's way. Why the hell should anyone risk their life for insured funds in a bank?

If it was just him being held up in a parking lot or whatever, and he wanted to be Charles Bronson then go for it.

[NutmegYankee]

63. They were already in harms way. They were in a bank during a robbery.

You never know if the robber is just going to start shooting people anyway.


Notice that passengers will probably never again let a hijacker take control of an airplane. Letting the criminals get what they wanted without interfering worked swell in the passengers case... :sarcasm:

[nini]

69. You keep comparing apples and oranges

A hijacker vs a bank robber? puhlease

You should start a vigilante service - or better yet go kick some muslin butt somewhere since you're such a tough guy.
:sarcasm:



:eyes:

[NutmegYankee]

70. Now that was apples and oranges...

A vigilante is not the victim of the crime. You cannot avenge a crime currently taking place by defending yourself while the crime is taking place.

And it wasn't a comparison of a theft (bank robber) to a kidnapping (hijacking), it was the mocking of this belief that we should cower down, piss our pants, and hope the bad man goes away with what he wants. We are taught this because of our litigious society and our all powerful insurance companies. It doesn't always happen. I have a friend whose father died during a convenience store robbery doing what he was told to do by the insurance regulations and company regulations. His reward for not saying anything and giving the robber all the money promptly without hassle - being forced onto his knees and shot through the back of the head execution style.


But hey, if you really think the insurance companies are worth your life, do what you want.

[Deja Q]

26. Employees are fired for doing nothing, employees are fired for doing something...

Next time, just do nothing. :( :shrug: That's what employers want most, I suppose.

[vadawg]

27. seems some people are missing the point, the bank has a policy for this

anyone who has ever worked a bank or even a 711 could tell you the company policy, you dont be a hero, you hand over the cash and be a great witness, its real simple... so they dont want you to do nothing, they want you to follow their policies, policies that work much better than a stand up fight at the tellers desk...

[noamnety]

30. Agreed.

I wouldn't want an employee on staff who needlessly endangers my customers and other employees. If he can't understand that lives are valued above money - even in a bank - he doesn't belong there.

[NutmegYankee]

65. And yet tellers die because the robber didn't want to leave a witness.

Fat lot of good complying with the robbers orders did for them. Insurance companies make assessments based on the odds of them doing that, but it's your life they are going to take. Fuck the insurance companies, you're just a statistic to them, and you owe it to yourself to fight back and not just die standing on your knees.

And that isn't sarcasm - It happened.

[Paladin]

67. I Know What You Said Isn't Sarcasm.

It is, however, really stupid.

Ignore the well-established odds and established procedures, not to mention putting other lives in danger, by going after a hyped-up, gun-bearing individual in the midst of committing a major felony---all for the chance to "fight back and not just die standing on your knees"? Yeah, right....

[NutmegYankee]

68. The man's family didn't see it as stupid.

They saw the complying with the gunman's wishes per company policy till he was executed as stupid. But do as you wish.

[customerserviceguy]

31. It's funny

how the answers here generally differ from what Professor Gates is encouraged to do when Officer Crowley comes a-callin'.

In one case, you're expected to stand up for liberty, in the other, you'd best be a sheep.

Frankly, I'm glad to have heard about this, and unless this man gets his job back, I'm withdrawing my account from Key Bank. They can suck shit if they will be wimpy cowards who punish people for not lying down and taking abuse from criminals.

[bluedigger]

32. Mr. Ncholson needs a more fulfilling job, apparently.

He definitely took an unnecessary risk. both brave and foolish.

And about the bank's insurance. Isn't this a pre-existing condition? I mean, the bank just keeps all this cash around, waiting for it to get stolen. Were I their insurer, I would have to deny the claim. Sorry!

[rucky]

33. Maybe he should be a cop.

Beats the hell out of being a bankster lackey.

[ellenfl]

35. i used to work in banking . . .

employees are trained to hand over the money (and dye pack, if possible) and to be good witnesses. what this guy did was in violation of bank policy and could have gotten himself and others killed. they were right to fire him. he needs to find a line of work where being a cowboy is acceptable.

ellen fl

[bertman]

41. I'm thinking that the best solution here would be for the bank president, the teller,

and the robber to sit down together for a cool one or two.

:evilgrin:

[varelse]

42. he needs a different line of work

bank teller is too tame of a job for this young man.

[LisaL]

47. No good deed should go unpunished.

[1]

48. heh! john dillinger is rolling (and pissing) in his grave. how dare anyone confront a bad guy?

of course we should all piss ourselves and capitulate to anyone that threatens us.

really? is that how y'all think? my God...

[JVS]

54. He's a fucking moron

[Mudoria]

57. It was a heroic act but a stupid one..

what if the robber actually had a weapon and his question had set off this guys temper and he started firing? The heroic teller would probably be dead and perhaps several other employees or customers. I regret that he lost his job over this but I don't have any doubts he'll have a slew of job offers pouring in from sympathetic employers in the area.

[Strong Atheist]

60. "It's something I almost look forward to. It's a thrill and I'm an adrenaline-junkie person. It's

the pursuit," he said, adding that when he told Seattle police officers this, one officer suggested he apply to become a cop.

:rofl:

[SoCalDem]

66. Company policies are there for a reason.

This could have gone horribly wrong..Banks have insurance for this sort of thing.

When an employee turns "yahoo" and goes after a robber, he endangers everyone.

The protocol, is give them the money, try to remember what they look like, sound like, are wearing, and sound the alarm if it can be safely done.

tellers usually have a special money pack with either gps or dye or both. they are supposed to do their part and let the cops & insurance companies handle the rest..