So... I had a really crazy experience today that I want to discuss here on this forum. I am currently employed as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager for a sporting goods store. Today, three State Troopers came into my store to make contact with a sales associate that was named as a witness to a crime. I normally don't have any issues with any law enforcement in my community but today made me stop and think.
These troopers were only there to talk to this associate as a witness (she didn't name herself as victim and they were not theirr to arrest her) and they ignored challenges by three employees as they entered the non- public area of the store (clearly marked as "employees only"). When they made contact with the associate to ask her questions she informed them that she was on the clock and needed to go punch off the time clock before she talked to them. The lead trooper refused and told her to stay put and talk to them. After a few moments the troopers decided that they needed more privacy than what the backstock offered and made their way down the hallway to the first open office door. That first open door happened to be my office. One of my new LP Officers was in my office at the time writing a report and they told him to leave! My officer then left the office and called to advise me of the situation. About a minute later I arrived at my office to find the associate sitting behind my desk (which is wrong anyways because there was confidential paperwork on my desk and associates are not allowed in the Security Department or LP managers office) and the door locked. When I rapped on the glass I was told through the door to go away because they needed privacy to talk to the associate. Of course, my keys are sitting on my desk so I could open the door. I then put my badge up to the glass and tapped again. After this one of the troopers came to the door and let me in. I was then told that I had an attitude and that I was not allowed to hear this conversation. And then I was told to leave or I would be subject offical action.
Well, needless to say I was mad. You do not come on to closed private property and "commandeer" the security manager's office without legal cause.
What would you have done?
These troopers were only there to talk to this associate as a witness (she didn't name herself as victim and they were not theirr to arrest her) and they ignored challenges by three employees as they entered the non- public area of the store (clearly marked as "employees only"). When they made contact with the associate to ask her questions she informed them that she was on the clock and needed to go punch off the time clock before she talked to them. The lead trooper refused and told her to stay put and talk to them. After a few moments the troopers decided that they needed more privacy than what the backstock offered and made their way down the hallway to the first open office door. That first open door happened to be my office. One of my new LP Officers was in my office at the time writing a report and they told him to leave! My officer then left the office and called to advise me of the situation. About a minute later I arrived at my office to find the associate sitting behind my desk (which is wrong anyways because there was confidential paperwork on my desk and associates are not allowed in the Security Department or LP managers office) and the door locked. When I rapped on the glass I was told through the door to go away because they needed privacy to talk to the associate. Of course, my keys are sitting on my desk so I could open the door. I then put my badge up to the glass and tapped again. After this one of the troopers came to the door and let me in. I was then told that I had an attitude and that I was not allowed to hear this conversation. And then I was told to leave or I would be subject offical action.
Well, needless to say I was mad. You do not come on to closed private property and "commandeer" the security manager's office without legal cause.
What would you have done?
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