Security guard forces two disabled men to crawl to their cars

**Terminator** · 01-19-06, 05:04 AM

Two disabled men were forced to crawl to their car after a security guard refused to let them take borrowed wheelchairs past a shopping centre entrance.
Westfield, which manages Fountain Gate shopping centre in Melbourne, apologised to the two men, who have muscular dystrophy.
The pair, both in their 40s, had used wheelchairs loaned to them by the shopping centre in Narre Warren.
They said a security guard had insisted they leave the chairs at the entrance and cover the five metres to their cars unaided.
Sandra Costa, the sister of one of the men, said the experience had been humiliating.
"Every time I think about it I get emotional," she told 3AW radio. "They have a disability. They need the courtesy to be treated like human beings," she said.
Westfield's director of corporate affairs Mark Ryan said the company deeply regretted the incident. It should never have happened, he said.
"I think undoubtedly (the family) deserve an apology. Once our management team provide me with a brief of the facts, Westfield will be seeking to meet with the people concerned."
Equal Opportunity Commission chief executive officer Helen Szoke said she was appalled by the incident.
"They had to crawl three to five metres. A 40-year-old person with muscular dystrophy - it's massively debilitating.
"Do you think anyone crawling three to five metres to get to their car is acceptable? How would you feel if you were told to do that?"
"At some stage you have to ask - where is the cost benefit analysis of allowing people to use a piece of equipment like a wheelchair? You would think shopping centres would see this as part of their service provision - even forgetting about human dignity."

**jmur5074** · 01-19-06, 07:59 AM

That's prettyb ridiculous. It still amazes me there's people out there who are just that stupid.

MountainCop · 01-19-06, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

That's pretty ridiculous. It still amazes me there's people out there who are just that stupid.

Oh yeah, there are. And the guard should be damn glad he's not in MY jurisdiction! Definite candidate for "jackin' up".

**KaiGywer** · 01-19-06, 09:15 AM

Stupid. My question is this though....how did they get from the car to the entrance when they got there?

**kdm0409** · 01-19-06, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by KaiGywer

Stupid. My question is this though....how did they get from the car to the entrance when they got there?

I was curious about that too? They had to make it there somehow...whatever way that was why couldn't they do it again? who knows!??!!

Indy · 01-19-06, 09:23 AM

What a pathetic human being. He most likely stood there and watched too. Why couldn't he have walked the 15 feet or so to the car with them and then take the chairs back? Is that really so difficult?

**KaiGywer** · 01-19-06, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Indy

What a pathetic human being. He most likely stood there and watched too. Why couldn't he have walked the 15 feet or so to the car with them and then take the chairs back? Is that really so difficult?

Either he is pathetic, or there is a pathetic policy. Having seen and heard some policies, nothing surprises me anymore..

**jmur5074** · 01-19-06, 10:53 AM

That security guard needs to learn what the term "intent of the law" means

Maybe the mall has a policy about wheelchairs leaving the building. But, that intent is to prevent theft.....

Just stupid

**slamdunc** · 01-19-06, 03:49 PM

I hope this guy isn't planning on a career in law enforcement, I'm sure the psych profile will jam him up. I don't know if this guy was just born without common sense or is just a cruel SOB.

If the mall does have a policy about the wheelchairs, I'm sure that they have a customer service dept, as well. All malls in my area accomodate (within reason) any person with disabilities.

**Garda** · 01-19-06, 06:10 PM

Nothing shocks me anymore when it comes to wannabees and uniform lovers.

2 years ago we had a car clamper refuse to unclamp a car despite the fact that the man was standing there with his seriously ill son, their local doctor screaming that it was a medical emergency and a police officer telling him to remove the clamp or be arrested.

He only removed it when the officer handed the cash over himself but luckily the officer took it further. The guy was sacked and that company lost the contract because of their dickhead policies.

**kdm0409** · 01-19-06, 06:13 PM

everytime I hear about a security guard fuckin up... I think about RW&L...does anyone else??

sorry had to bring that up

**pmfc** · 01-19-06, 09:00 PM

I think that "guard" should have his legs tied together and be forced to crawl around the perimeter of the parking lot for an hour.

**cntryboy0531** · 01-19-06, 09:29 PM

actually, I think the guard should be fired, his knee's broken, then made to crawl to an ambulance parked a mile away, and put himself into it.

I hope the family sues the piss out of them.

**Wise_undergrad_08** · 01-19-06, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by cntryboy0531

actually, I think the guard should be fired, his knee's broken, then made to crawl to an ambulance parked a mile away, and put himself into it.

I hope the family sues the piss out of them.

Nah, everything up to being able to put himself in the ambulance. At this point the ambulance needs to inch forward a little everytime he tries to grab on and pull himself up. Then they need to tell him, "Okay, seriously, man. Get in. We won't do it again." And then of course, do it again. That would be sweet justice.

**cntryboy0531** · 01-20-06, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Wise_undergrad_08

Nah, everything up to being able to put himself in the ambulance. At this point the ambulance needs to inch forward a little everytime he tries to grab on and pull himself up. Then they need to tell him, "Okay, seriously, man. Get in. We won't do it again." And then of course, do it again. That would be sweet justice.

All the way to the hospital.