If you work for Walgreens, think twice before you defend your life and your coworkers on company time.
Jeremy Hoven, a pharmacist in Benton Harbor, MI was fired from his job at Walgreens after preventing an early morning armed robbery with his legally carried handgun. When one of the two robbers attempted to shoot him as he was calling 911--the gun apparently jammed--he drew his weapon and fired, driving both robbers from the store before they were able to harm Hoven or his coworkers, or steal money or drugs.
In recognition of this brave act, Walgreen's has terminated Hoven's employment. Township police Lt. Delman Lange, after reviewing the surveillance video, told the local paper, "If it was me, I would have done the same thing."
Walgreens, for their part, refuses to disclose their exact policies, but according to a company official, "Store employees receive comprehensive training on our robbery procedures and how to react and respond". Walgreens' approach is "endorsed by law enforcement, which strongly advises against confrontation of crime suspects. Compromise is safer", she said.
Unless of course the robber decides to shoot at you. Hoven maintains that he was never told he could not carry his gun, or that he should not resist.
Hoven, who has worked for Walgreens since 2006, has filed a suit in federal court alleging wrongful discharge.
Interestingly, Walgreens takes out accidental death insurance policies on it's workers. The company netted six million dollars ($6,000,000) in income collecting on Corporate Owned Life Insurance in FY2007, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in FY2008, and five million dollars ($5,000,000) in FY2009. Perhaps that's why they refused to install security measures including a "panic button" alarm requested by Hoven after a 2007 robbery.
Video of Hoven foiling the robbery:
More here and here.