Save a life - Lose your job

[KaiGywer]

What a bunch of bullshit!

'You're fired,' man hears after saving a woman's life

The 24-year-old grabbed a gun before going to help his neighbor who had been shot.
By Jim Schoettler, The Times-Union
When a neighbor screamed she'd been shot, Colin Bruley grabbed his shotgun, found the victim and began treating her bloodied right leg.

Tonnetta Lee survived Tuesday's pre-dawn shooting at her Jacksonville apartment, and her sister and a neighbor praised Bruley's actions. But his employers, the same people who own the Arlington complex where Bruley lives, reacted differently. They fired him.

Bruley, a leasing agent at the Oaks at Mill Creek, said he lost his job after being told that brandishing the weapon was a workplace violation, as was failing to notify supervisors after the incident occurred. He'd worked at the Monument Road complex since December and for the owner, Village Green Cos., since 2005.

Bruley said he was too shaken to call his supervisor immediately after the incident, which occurred just before 2 a.m., but planned to eventually do so. He also said he was acting as a citizen, not an employee, and shouldn't have been punished for trying to protect himself and others. He never fired the shotgun.

"I was expecting work to give me some kind of commendation," said Bruley, 24. "I was totally blown back. It was a crisis that most people don't go through."

Andrea Roebker, the company's director of public relations, said "We're not in a position to discuss any employment issues outside of [with] the employee.

She declined to comment further, citing confidentiality rules.

A complaint Bruley said was given to him by his supervisor Tuesday said he violated several company policies found in an employee handbook. Those procedures were also explained in a recent meeting and an e-mail, the complaint said. One policy prohibits any type of weapons being used in the workplace. The complaint cited him for "gross misconduct."

"Colin demonstrated extremely poor judgment in responding to this situation," the complaint said. "Colin's failure to immediately report this incident ... could have serious ramifications to the property, its associates and residents."

A police report said the shooting followed a domestic quarrel involving Lee, 24, and her boyfriend. Bruley said he was dozing off in his apartment when he heard Lee's screams. He said he then grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun he uses for protection and hunting.

Bruley said he found the woman bleeding heavily. He handed the shotgun to a neighbor, tied a tourniquet around her right leg and waited for police and rescue to arrive.

"I was kind of in a state of shock. I had blood all over my body," Bruley said.

After emergency officials took Lee to the hospital, Bruley returned to his apartment and tried to settle down, eventually falling asleep. He said he could have called his supervisor but didn't think she could do anything at the time. He said he was called into the office about 9:30 a.m., gave his account and then left. He said he was called back that afternoon and told he was fired.

Neighbor Kevin Courson joined Bruley at the crime scene when he saw Bruley had a gun for protection. Courson said he is incensed by the dismissal.

"Here was a guy trying to do a good deed. He wasn't trying to hurt nobody," said Courson, 31.

Erica Jenkins, Lee's sister, said Bruley should still have a job. Lee couldn't be reached to comment despite several messages left with her sister and mother.

"If it wasn't for him ... she could have lost her leg or died," said Jenkins, 19. "He put his life in jeopardy for someone else."

Bruley said he is considering contacting a lawyer about his dismissal, but will first look for another job and possibly another home. He promises he won't shy away from aiding others in need.

"If I'd lose my job again for helping some girl's life ... I'd do it over and over," Bruley said.

Source: The Florida Times-Union

Great attitude by this citizen!

[armygrnt502]

We are choking on our on PCness. There is flexibility in the rules, there are always circumstances....

Sadly though, its like those Home Depot employees that ran after and caught the shoplifter and then were fired.

Somethings got to change and change quick.

[jmur5074]

Now that....that pisses me off.

[Rhino]

Now that the attacker knows the policy, look for this to happen again. You know, because that's what predators do. I only hope the next victim or their family sues their asses off for firing that guy.

[Ianl6]

What is the matter with people like these they should give the man a pat on the back for trying to help protect one of their tenants not
firing him.They just as well hang a welcome sign on the doors of all their properties.

[BigDawg]

Seems like an email barrage to the company complaining about what they did might help in this case too. Anyone want to join me???

[BigDawg]

Here is the email I sent them. Maybe if they get enough they might reconsider their decision.


You should be ashamed at yourselves for firing an employee that decided to risk his own life to help a fellow tenant. As a Law Enforcement Officer currently serving for the United Nations I'm completly taken back by your decision and complete disregard for human life. I can see where you rank your tenants in the grand scheme of things. You should be so lucky to have employees of his caliber working for you, and yet you reward his heroism by firing him. May you also some day need the assistance of an innocent bystander and not receive it because they dont want to get involved, or they fear the possibility of losing their job. The world would be a much better place with more people like him, and less like you.

www.villagegreen.com

[KaiGywer]

Oaks at Mill Creek
Ph: (904) 727-0898

653 Monument Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32225

Email form to this complex

Email form for the company

[KaiGywer]

Here is the email I sent them. Maybe if they get enough they might reconsider their decision.

Probably not, but it's worth a try. I also emailed them and I am posting on other forums I'm on as well

[213th]

Here is the email I sent them. Maybe if they get enough they might reconsider their decision.


You should be ashamed at yourselves for firing an employee that decided to risk his own life to help a fellow tenant. As a Law Enforcement Officer currently serving for the United Nations I'm completly taken back by your decision and complete disregard for human life. I can see where you rank your tenants in the grand scheme of things. You should be so lucky to have employees of his caliber working for you, and yet you reward his heroism by firing him. May you also some day need the assistance of an innocent bystander and not receive it because they dont want to get involved, or they fear the possibility of losing their job. The world would be a much better place with more people like him, and less like you.

www.villagegreen.com

I copied yours, changed the occupation obviously, and added this paragraph

Your cowardly actions are truly despicable, and I am embarrassed to know that there are such people of your stature in my nation. I am encouraging friends and family in the vicinity of Oaks at Mill Creek to ensure they do not support your business. Your actions will surely discourage other men and women from doing what they know is right, from fear of retaliation. I am without doubt that your actions will result in the loss of lives around this nation, that could have otherwise been saved, if bystanders weren't afraid of retaliation.

[KaiGywer]

Wonder if they'll reply to any of us. Post their emails if they do.

[Ducky]

If word of this gets spread, this guy could very well be offered a new job ASAP, working for people who can appreciate courage and initiative.

[213th]

Wonder if they'll reply to any of us. Post their emails if they do.

will do

[TXCharlie]

Emails on their way - Same one (except for the Note) sent to both places. The one sent to corporate hq's I addressed to the President & Board, if they have one

NOTE - This message was also sent to the Village Green President and Board of Directors:

I read in extreme disgust that you fired an employee at "Oaks at Mill Creek" named Colin Bruley for his actions which resulted in the saving of a woman's life.

You may look upon what "could have happened" as a liability, but if you do, then you are some of the most despicable selfish corporate stooges in the world - Think of how thankful that woman's family is that your employee did what he did - And think of how thankful YOU would be if that had been YOUR daughter that he saved.

You, madams and sirs, represent all that is wrong with this country, and you should vacate the planet along with the criminals themselves, because in a way you are their accomplices - I don't know how you can even sleep at night.

I demand that you immediately re-instate Colin Bruley to his former position, but you should give him a raise and a medal in addition to that.

I also demand that you fire the idiot or idiots who terminated Colin Bruley, because they are a liability to us all.

[213th]

anybody want a laugh or two?

About Village Green



Village Green and Village Park set the standard for apartment living in the Midwest with over 125 premier locations throughout the Midwest.



When you choose an apartment, be sure to consider the management team behind it. With nearly 30 years of experience, Village Green attributes its success to its "We Care" management philosophy which guarantees you professional, courteous attention.

[213th]

Emails on their way - Same one (except for the Note) sent to both places. The one sent to corporate hq's I addressed to the President & Board, if they have one

I couldn't find a way to contact the Pres and board...can ya help me out please?

[TXCharlie]

I used the email form, but here's the President's name in this article. Yahoo Finance may have more corporate contact information, unless it's a private company.

There is a poll at this address (96% say he shouldn't have been fired)
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-onlin...79266027.shtml

Colin Bruley lost his job at an apartment complex after aiding an injured neighbor.

By Jim Schoettler, The Times-Union

An ongoing firestorm over the firing of a Jacksonville man who helped rescue a wounded neighbor caught his former employers off-guard, leading their top executive to defend the decision Thursday.

Village Green Cos. initially declined to discuss specifics about the dismissal of Colin Bruley, citing confidentiality rules. But as bad publicity continued Thursday, the company released documents giving details it said clarified the incident.

More crime and public safety coverage

Homicide 360: A Times-Union special report

George Quay, the company's president, also addressed the decision to fire Bruley, who worked as a leasing agent at the Arlington apartment complex where Tonnetta Lee was shot June 12 during a domestic quarrel. All previous inquiries had been fielded by a public relations official.

The Michigan-based company has been inundated with e-mails and other messages from people voicing concerns about Bruley's dismissal. Quay said he has tried to answer as many inquiries as he can personally.

Quay said Bruley was dismissed for violating a series of company policies that included having weapons in the workplace and failure to notify superiors about the incident - statements previously made without further details.

Quay said lesser factors that went into the decision to fire Bruley included that he owed back rent and was facing eviction from the Oaks at Mill Creek. That issue, first mentioned in company documents Thursday, was not noted in the dismissal complaint Bruley provided to the Times-Union. Bruley also didn't mention such problems.

Bruley went to Lee's aid, armed with a shotgun, after hearing her screams for help shortly before 2 a.m. She survived the leg wound. A man identified as Lee's live-in boyfriend has been arrested.
[which means that the shotgun was still an EXCELLENT idea in hindsight, due to the probability of him returning - Duhhh!!!]

Quay said Bruley should have called police after hearing an earlier quarrel outside his apartment, though Bruley said it stopped and he didn't think he needed to call police. Quay also said Bruley's decision to arm himself with the shotgun before knowing more about the second incident was a mistake.
[how dumb is THAT statement?]

A statement signed by Bruley and released Thursday by the company said he grabbed the gun after hearing yelling and other commotion, went outside and then learned the woman had been shot. Bruley told the Times-Union last week he only took the gun outside after hearing the woman scream she'd been shot. He stood by that story Thursday.

But Quay said, "We can't have a resident, or in this case a resident who was also an associate, taking a cavalier attitude and arming themselves until they understand the specifics of the situation. He made a decision that could have been dangerous."

Quay said company policy required Bruley to notify superiors about the incident immediately after it occurred. Bruley said he was too shaken to do so but planned to make a call later that morning. He gave his supervisor information when called into the office 71/2 hours after the shooting.

"That's way too long to wait," Quay said.

Quay commended Bruley for assisting Lee, who called Bruley a hero. A company timeline of the incident, however, mentions that a police officer told company officials Bruley's use of a tourniquet "caused the victim more harm than good."

As for the back rent, Quay said Bruley hadn't paid for May and a company document said his check bounced. Bruley said he paid May's rent with a money order but still owes for an earlier month. Quay said eviction proceedings have begun.

Bruley said the company's responses Thursday were an unfair attempt to discredit him.

"They're just trying to make me look bad. I think it's ridiculous," Bruley said.

[TXCharlie]

Here's the newspaper's Letters to the Editors form, which would be much more powerful than writing the management, IMO:

http://www.jacksonville.com/aboutus/...o_editor.shtml

[213th]

Quay commended Bruley for assisting Lee, who called Bruley a hero. A company timeline of the incident, however, mentions that a police officer told company officials Bruley's use of a tourniquet "caused the victim more harm than good."

That is total crap to mention that

[TXCharlie]

Yeah, most people know that a tourniquet can cause damage and is always the last resort to stop bleeding, but he's probably never even had a First Aid course if he did that.

Maybe the apartment should give employees a First Aid course if they cared so much for their residents