Related To Story COMPANY STATEMENT ON FIRING From Village Green Companies President-COO George Quay: "Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well being of our associates and residents. We ensure our associates are trained for emergency situations. These matters are taken very seriously and we have a standard protocol, including calling emergency services upon learning of a dangerous situation. "In a signed statement by Mr. Bruley that we have released, he states he heard what sounded like a domestic dispute at midnight and then two hours later at 2:00 a.m. he grabbed his shotgun and went to the scene. When he left his apartment armed, he had no indication a gun was in play at the scene. He did not follow procedures and contact 911 at any time that night. "We do not condone residents or associates jeopardizing their safety or the safety of others by intervening in police matters. Our policy does not permit weapons of any kind at the workplace for the safety of all." "We caution anyone from jumping to conclusions, as many facts were considered (including Mr. Bruley's blatant disregard for our safety policies) in our response to this incident that have not been made public due to our commitment to the privacy of our associates." VIDEO |
Bloggers, Columnists, Gun Lobby Support Fired Apartment Worker
Leasing Agent Says 'Going Out There Unarmed Would Have Been Dumb'
POSTED: 2:12 pm EDT June 21,
2007
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An apartment leasing agent fired last week after grabbing his shotgun and running to help a woman who was shot is being praised by talk-show host Neal Boortz, celebrated on Internet blogs, supported by the National Rifle Association and called a hero by a columnist with the Washington Post.Colin Bruley told Channel 4 that he didn't reach for his gun until he heard his neighbor in the Oaks at Mill Creek Apartments on Monument Road say she was shot and thought a gunman might still be on the loose."She was in a desperate need for help 'Someone help me, I've been shot,'" Bruley said. "I reacted to a situation and it was a matter of seconds."
The shooting turned out to be a domestic dispute. Bruley never fired the gun.He also tried to stop the bleeding from the woman's leg prior to paramedics arriving.While his neighbors commended his actions, Bruley's employers fired him for violating company policy. They said that bringing a weapon to the workplace violated their rules, as was failing to call 911 or notify his supervisors of the incident.Bruley said he was too shaken up to call his employers the night of the shooting.The owner of the Oaks at Mill Creek, Village Green Companies, provided Channel 4 a timeline of events that included information that Bruley was notified of the company policy about firearms at a new hire orientation in Spring 2005, received updated emergency plans and procedures in March and April of this year.The company said Bruley's rent was delinquent and his May rent check had bounced, according to the company. They said Burley's lease was missing from the management office.The company also said that a police officer said Bruley's attempt at medical aid to the victim of the June 12 shooting at the apartments "actually caused the victim more harm than good."Despite the company's version of the facts, Bruley's firing has brought statements of outrage and support from around the country.Emil Steiner, who writes the OFF/beat column for the Washington Post, wrote: "He put the life of his neighbor -- who was also his client -- ahead of his own safety. Which raises the question: Isn't this the kind of person any company would want as an employee?"Dan Bobinski, the director of the Center for Workplace Excellence, referred to Bruley's firing "despicable, this trend is of punishing Good Samaritans."Bruley told the local station's Adam Landau that he did what he thought was appropriate for the situation and he doesn't think he should be fired for it."Going out there unarmed, I think, would have been dumb," Bruley said. "Anybody that had access to a weapon would have done the same thing."
Copyright 2007 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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