Confronting Reality With Mr. X

Our policy is that employees are never to do anything to endanger themselves, co-workers or customers in the event of a robbery. In fact, the first principle in the policy is, “Cooperate! Don’t argue, resist or attack the robber.” Law enforcement officials support our position to avoid any confrontation during a robbery.--Anthony Kenney, President, Speedway SuperAmerica

Dear Mr. Kenney,

Let me see if I've got this straight. That's a universal "zero tolerance" policy, right? Your position is that only law enforcement is trained and equipped enough to confront an assailant on your premises? And any employee resisting an assailant will be terminated because they have endangered themselves and others?

And yeah, I know you qualified your position to state "robbery," but really--how do you know what an attacker truly wants? And what if he wants no surviving witnesses?

So, hypothetically now, if an assailant, for convenience let's call him "Mr. X," enters Speedway SuperAmerica corporate headquarters and ignores the receptionist's request to sign in at the front desk, s/he and any on-site employed security should cooperate? Even if that includes Mr. X ordering them to accompany him to your office suite?

And if Mr. X decides he wants to tie you all up, you'll let him? You really won't fight back? Under any circumstances? What was the word you used? "Never"?

Really?

Would you act the same way if Mr. X forced his way into your home? Assuming no fundamental principles have changed and that "law enforcement officials" are still "the Only Ones" who know what's best, would you cooperate and not resist with your family in immediate danger?

Really?