4/17/99 Singapore Man Kills Girlfriend's Maid; Blames Her for Seduction

Ng Boon Tee, 26, admitted to killing his girlfriend’s Indonesian maid Sumiyati Muniri, 25, at the maid’s workplace, between 10.30pm, and 2.15am the next day. According to the facts of the case, Ng claimed that the maid had seduced him by undressing herself when they were alone in a room in the house. The maid pulled out a knife and asked to be paid for sexual favors while he was undressing himself. He retaliated by smashing her head with a perfume bottle before stabbing her with the knife.

9/9/1998 Springfield Township, MI Woman Shot by Random Act of Violence by Mentally Ill Man

Kelly Rundell, now 43, was found guilty of attempted murder, but mentally ill. Shirley "Gwen" Hunter was working at the New Oakland Family Center when she had stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. Rundell approached Hunter, who held the door for him — thinking he might be a patient coming in for care. Hunter said he "looked right through her," walked passed and stopped. She next heard a loud bang and fell to the ground, feeling an extreme burning inside. Rundell shot her in the back at point-blank range. They had not known each other. When police arrived at his home minutes after the crime, Rundell had already changed his clothes. And he had disassembled and hid the gun. This helped convince the jury that he wasn't insane at the time of the crime, and that he understood right from wrong, according to prosecutors.

Norfolk, UK Study- Public Workers Assaulted 7 Times a Day

An investigation in Norfolk has revealed some startling findings about the safety of frontline public sector staff. Surprisingly, there are 7 assaults a day on workers in this field.
Across the UK, health care staff eight times more likely to be assaulted than police officers. By far the greatest number of attacks were carried out on health workers such as doctors, nurses, mental health specialists, and ambulance drivers, who were assaulted 1,676 times last year.
In response, Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership appointed a local security management specialist in October 2004, whose role includes investigating all complaints - not only about attacks on staff but also about damage to Trust property as a result of a violent incident. They also teach staff on how to de-escalate a situation and breakaway safely from physical attacks.

Canadian Murders may Lead to New Labor Regulations

After the murder of a 19-year-old victim was working by himself the government in Manitoba is looking at worker safety legislation. The potential changes would be part of a broader overhaul of the Employment Standards Act. There are already regulation requiring employers to have a plan in place to identify possible risks -- and ways to minimize the risks -- for workers left alone. This law came about after the 1981 murder of 16-year-old doughnut shop waitress Barbara Stoppel. The proposed changes to the new law may include a ban prohibiting under-age employees from working overnight shifts.

4/9/04 Bradenton, FL Trial Starts for Man who Killed Ex-Girlfriend at Work

Emerson Ware, 39, will begin his trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Jeannette D. Conwell, 45. is accused of breaking into Conwell's house, threatening her daughter and boyfriend, going to Conwell's workplace and stabbing her to death with a knife he stole from the home.

Florida Guns at Work Bill Fails

A controversial Florida bill, HB 129, that would make it a felony for Florida businesses to bar guns from the workplace was defeated in the state legislature. It was only a couple of weeks ago when a hearing for the proposed legislation was cancelled due to the strong opposition from the business community. Testimony of members of the Florida Retail Federation and Florida Chamber of Commerce presented a solid stance against any compromise. This initiative is a landmark in the NRA’s 50-state campaign to pass guns-at-work legislation. Currently, there are ten guns-at-work bills pending in legislatures across the United States: California, Utah, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and New Hampshire.

Free On-line Courses on Bullying at Work

SkillSoft, a UK based provider of comprehensive e-learning content and technology products for business and IT professionals, is offering 3 web-based training to help workers combat bullying. These three on-line courses are available anytime by visiting http://www.skillsoft.com/bullying, until the end of July 2006. The three courses available are Harassment at Work – addressing the issue of bullying and harassment in the workplace; Working with Aggressive People - details the characteristics of the six most common types of aggressive people and provides effective ways you can cope with their behaviors and Difficult People in the Workplace - shows step-by-step methods and processes to help you identify difficult people and learn how to deal and communicate with them.

1/31 Richland, VA Man Kidnapps Ex-wife with Knife

Thomas Walker Jr., 23, walked into the Rawlinson Road workplace of his estranged girlfriend. She was hiding in a locked bathroom but he forced his way in and took her from the business at knifepoint. He crashed his car a short distance away and she escaped but not before he took $40 from her. He was later apprehended.

LA Sees Violence Against City Employees Soar

Los Angeles City Attorney's Office claim that workplace violence and threats to municipal workers increased 2,000% in the past 5 years. There were four reports of workplace violence in 2001, 26 in 2002, 58 in 2003, 45 in 2004 and 93 in 2005, according to records. There was also an upsurge in the number of restraining orders filed. While there were 41 restraining orders last year, there were just 32 in 2003 and only 12 in 2004. There was some discussion if this was due to more threats and incidents or just better reporting. The office asked for $400,000 to create a full-time Workplace Violence Unit however it is unlikely as there was a projected a $270 million budget shortfall.

2/13 Landover Hills, VA Firefighters Fight over Who Fight Fire

In one of the oddest cases of workplace violence, an all volunteer firefighter department endangered emergency workers from another station by sabotaging equipment while a house burned. Two career firefighters from the Landover Hills station claimed that volunteer firefighters from the Kentland Station deliberately shut off their air tanks and ripped off some of their protective gear, resulting in first and second degree burns. The dispute was over which station should fight the fire. One of the alleged assailants is on operational suspension and an internal investigation is underway.

Federal Court Upholds Oklahoma Company's Right to Ban Firearms at Work

A Denver federal appeals court ruled it was legal for an Oklahoma paper mill to fire 8 employees who violated company policy by having guns in their vehicle on the company parking lot. The workers sued the company for illegal search of their property and wrongful discharge as the policy was in violation of their 2nd amendment right. However, the judge claimed that the company, “did not unlawfully infringe upon any right of plaintiffs in enforcing its no-firearms policy.” The firing occurred in 2002 and prompted state legislators in 2004 to enact a law that makes it much harder for property owners and employers to ban guns from their property.

2/14 Oxford, AL Man Murders Boss, Claiming to be a US Marshall

Fred Allen Walker, 48, killed his boss of over a dozen years in the back office of MotorCycle Sports. Walker came to work for a few minutes Tuesday morning, then went outside and returned with two handguns and went back to Jerry Wayne Harrell's office about 9:30 a.m. Afterwards, Walker walked back into the showroom and made a phone call to the US Marshall’s office in DC. He made claims to the responding medical technicians that he worked for the Marshall’s service and was carrying out an execution. Walker had no relation to the US Marshall’s service nor any other federal agency.

1/26 Beaumont, TX Man Hid in Locker Room before Assaulting Ex-Wife

Anthony Wayne Leblanc, 35, shot his estranged wife, Emma Leblanc and attempted to shoot her coworker where they worked in the janitorial department. He snuck in to the workplace and hid in the worker’s locker room. At around 7 pm, when she started work, he came out and shot at her 4 times, striking her once in the elbow. He is did not strike the co-worker when he shot at him. He fled only to wreck his car during a police chance.

1/30 Santa Barbara, CA Former Postal Worker Kills 6 then Self

Jennifer Sanmarco, 44, killed 5 people at a mail-processing center and then killed herself, using a 9 mm handgun. According to investigators, she was put on disability for behavior problems in 2003. She had at one point been removed by deputies from the facility. She had since moved to New Mexico where she had several incidents with law enforcement due to her erratic behavior such as taking her clothes off in a store.
On the night of the murders, she arrived at the plant and entered the fenced grounds by following closely behind another car to get past the gate. She then entered the facility by taking an employee's electronic identification badge at gunpoint but did not hurt that employee. She killed two employees outside, another just outside the door and critically wounded another just inside. 3 other victims were killed inside before she killed herself. It is thought that she killed a former neighbor before she went on her rampage at the processing center.

1/23 Chandler, AZ Nephew Shoots Co-Worker Uncle at Sign Company

Oscar Valenzuela was charged with the murder of his uncle, Benjamin Marquez-Valenzuela, 29. Both were working on painting signs at the Young Electric Sign Co., when the nephew shot the victim. While there is no declared motive for the shooting, authories believe that it may be personal matter as Oscar had moved out from living with the victim about 3 weeks ago. According to reports, the shooter told other workers that it was his last day and that we was returning to Mexico.

1/23 Clayton, NC Hostage Situation at Catepillar Plant DV Related

Michael Wilson Akins Jr., 22, was a temporary employee at a Caterpillar plant where his girlfriend also worked. After a heated arguement where he alledgedly threatened her, he was brought into a seperate conference room by security and a supervisor. It was then that he pulled a handgun out. The men pushed him out of the room and locked the door but he then took a male nurse hostage. After looking for his girlfriend but not finding her, he took the hostage's car and phone, fleeing the scene. He later crashed during police pursuit. Akins had numerous arrests for firearm related crimes.

1/16 Calgary, Canada Mortgage Executive Murdered in his Office

Jack Beauchamp, 49-year-old father of three and head of a mortgage lending firm that he founded in 1998, was found dead outside his office early in the morning by an employee, just minutes after the shooting. While there were no immediate suspects, Robert Deer, 52, was taken in and charged with criminal harassment. Beauchamp had received threatening e-mails for months leading up to the shooting. Deer has been released on bail. Police also wouldn't say how Mr. Deer knew Mr. Beauchamp. However, local media reported that the firm turned down Mr. Deer's application for a mortgage.

1/9 Winston-Salem, NC Woman Shot by Husband at ReHab Center

Lee Terry Sr. shot Shefon McIntyre while she was working at the Winston-Salem Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Shortly before 6 a.m., he arrived to speak with her. The two went into the stairwell where he then shot the 61 year old woman. Although he fled the scene, he later turned himself in to the police. The victim is recovering at the hospital.

1/9 Vereeniging, South Africa Employer Murders Workers for Organizing Labor

Employer Charl Colyn, his daughter Isabel, son-in-law Jacques Smit and family friend Ruan Swanepoel are accused of murdering 3 of Colyn’s employees at a Laundromat. Caroline Lesito (28), Constance Moeletsi and Victoria Ndweni (30) were found dead in laundry bins at their workplace, Protea Dry Cleaners. Another three suspects are still being sought by police. The Colyns' gardeners, Samuel Mzizi and Jacob Dlamini are also charged as accessories to the crime as they were paid to clean up the crime scene.
According to charges, 9 people entered the workplace and began to assault the employees. At one point they opened a washing machine, threw chemicals in the machine and put victims in. When taken out, they were tied up and strangled, left for dead in the dust bins. As for a possible motive, one of the victims influenced workers to join the union and had already reported the owners to the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration).

6/29/1994 San Fernando, Trinidad Hitman, Hired by Husband and 3rd wife, Murders former wife and Dr.

Professor Vijay Naraynsingh, his wife, Seeromani Maraj-Naraynsingh and Elton Ramasir are being tried for the murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh. Naraynsingh was gunned down outside her workplace by hitman Shawn Parris on June 29, 1994 as she left her workplace at the now defunct Langmore Health Foundation.

1/15 Tecumseh, MI Man Assault Girlfriend at Hospital over Cell Phone

Royce Wayne Ohlinger, 29, alledgely assaulted his 24 year old girlfriend at her workplace, Herrick Memorial Hospital. The two had spoken earlier in the evening when the man accused her of seeing someone else. He went to the hospital at 3:48 a.m. and confronted her in the X-ray room. Ohlinger wanted to see her cell phone to see who she had been speaking with and in the ensuing struggle, the woman claimed that he struck her and pushed her to the ground resulting in her heading a cart. He fled as she went to the emergency room. Police called the man on her phone and requested that he return to the hospital which he refused. He was later apprehended by deputies and charged with domestic violence and larceny of property worth less than $200, according to jail records.

1/10 Kansas City, KS Man Fires Shotgun at Plant then Commits Suicide at Home

Lester King, 52, fired shots inside a lighting plant, Midwest Lighting Solutions but did not strike anyone. He later returned to his home and committed suicide in his car, using a shotgun. After leaving the plant, he called a friend stating that he was going to kill himself. When asked if he shot anyone, King responded, “"No, I was just mad and wanted to make a statement." According to a company spokesman, King was disciplined just before the event, went home and returned with a firearm at around 2:20 pm. King was a well-known blues guitarist in the community.

1/6 Louisville, KY Meter Reader Confronted by Man with Knife

Two officers responded to a call from a water company employee after he was confronted by a man with a knife while taking a reading at a home. When officers arrived, the Michael Woods, 38 confronted them and cut a supervising officer on the face and the shoulder. Another officer then shot the man in the leg and the chest.

1/4 Commercial City, CO Man Shoots Ex-Wife at AutoGlass Shop

Brian Fossey, 40, shot his estranged wife as she was leaving her work at an auto glass shop around 5 p.m. Police found her in parking lot and took her to hospital where she is expected to recover. Fossey, left the scene but was later found the next night at 3 a.m. on the side of road. He sustained minor injuries after his car went off the road. He had take an overdose of prescription medicine. His condition is stable and we will be charged with first-degree assault charges.

1/3 Ajax, Canada Man Abducts and Assaults Woman with Knife

A man was accused of kidnapping and stabbing his former common-law wife. She was working at her Whitby workplace when he abducted her at knifepoint around 10:30 a.m. The 23-year-old victim was held against her will for several hours and assaulted with a knife when she tried to escape. Family members called her cellphone and she indicated she needed police assistance. Police arrived at his home around 7 p.m. and took a man into custody. The woman was taken to hospital with wounds to her head and back.

12/31 Phoenix, AZ Man Kills Self and Ex-Wife, Wounds Boyfriend and Daughter

A yet unnamed man killed his ex-wife, Guadalupe Ava Rios, critically wounding her boyfriend and his 2 year old daughter. Police believe that the ex-husband, had been driving around in a truck with his two daughters, ages 2 and 3 ½, when he found Rios was walking to her workplace. Her boyfriend was also at the scene when the couple confronted each other. Investigators believe the ex-husband opened fire on 26-year-old Rios and shot her 25-year-old boyfriend numerous times in the stomach, then turned the handgun on himself. The slain couple’s 2-year-old daughter was shot in the right wrist, perhaps by a stray bullet.

12/28 Detroit, MI UPS Worker Shoots Family Members then Co-Worker

Jamal Samuels, 22 shot his mother, 56-year-old Annie Samuels, and his 14-year-old niece multiple times at their home in the early hours before he fire to a bedroom in an apparent attempt to burn down the house. He then drove to the UPS sorting facility where he worked at about 3 a.m. in a lot behind a Wal-Mart store where some UPS employees park. He had previous been at his job but was sent home due to lack of work. After lying in wait, he shot and killed co-worker who was leaving the center. Samuels apparently then drove to another co-worker's home nearby in Wayne County's Redford Township, where he took his own life in the driveway. Police found AK-47 rounds at his home but had not stated what kind of weapon was used.
Samuels allegedly suffered from a mental disorder and was not taking his medication. During the shooting at the Wal-Mart parking also damaged a silo, causing the loss of 60,000 gallons of milk, costing at least a $150-thousand loss.

12/23 Spokane, WA Santa Shot by Boy with BB Gun

A 13-year-old boy in Washington was charged with of shooting a mall Santa. The boy used a BB gun and shot from the second floor of the mall. The man was struck just under the eye but did not suffer any injuries and was able to continue to work.

12/23 Houston, TX Former Employee Shoots Supervisors at Oil Change Shop

Ritchie Arthur Brown, 22, arrived at Universal Oil & Lube around noon and began to argue over his recent termination with his former supervisor and son. He then shot the two. Workers at the automotive shop said the alleged shooter worked at the place for a few months, but wasn't a good fit. Brown then fled home and held off police till late in the evening. After several attempts with negotiation and the use of tear gas, Brown came out, shooting at the officers. He was then killed by responding fire.

12/17 Manatee, FL Man Holds Woman Hostage with Razor

Fred Williams Jr., 46, held a woman hostage at her workplace for 6 hours with a razor blade. The man and woman have a child together. He struck here several times and threatened to kill her between 5 and 11 p.m. Williams was later arrested for kidnapping, aggravated assault and domestic battery.

12/18 Vista, CA Man Kills Two Co-Workers at Pool Supply Factory

Imeldo Molina Laurel, 52, is wanted for the murder of two co-workers at Polaris Pool Systems Inc. While a motive is unknown, witnesses at the scene believe that it something related to outside of the workplace. Early Sunday morning, Maria Martinez, 38, and Manuel Lopez Alvarez, 46, were sitting outside in the parking lot during a break when Molina drove up and shot them numerous times,. The suspect had worked for Polaris since 1994 and had no history of violence. It is believed that he fled to Mexico.

11/27 Albany, GA Pizza Hut Employee Killed in Parking Lot by Jealous Man

Deyale Johnson, 20 and Nevarro Brinson, 22, were charged with murder for the killing of Damarcus Wadell. Allegedly, Wadell and Johnson were dating the same woman. The two assailants gunned down the victim in the parking lot of the Pizza Hut where he worked.

6/10 Fresno, CA Former Employer Kidnaps and Plans Murder of Woman

Ricardo Zambrano, 36, and Alfonso Cuevas Gonzalez, 39, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, carjacking and other charges when they took a woman outside her Menlo Park workplace in a plan to rape and murder her because she rebuffed Zambrano's romantic advances when she worked for him earlier in the year. The plan failed when the woman at whose house the crimes were supposed to occur didn't let Gonzalez inside. He was forced to bring the victim to another location. The victim later escaped with the help of another woman, an associate’s mother who learned of the crime. The attempted murder charges against the men were later dropped.

12/15 St. Paul, MN Co-Worker Shoots Other at UPS Distribution Center

A 19-year-old employee of a UPS distribution plant, Nathaniel Harris, shot and wounded a fellow co-worker at around 8:50 am in the parking lot. The suspect had finished his night shift, went home and tried to re-enter the facility but was not allowed in. He waited outside for his victim, whom he had a dispute with, and shot him with a shotgun, grazing his head. The victim, Jeffrey Anderson, went to the security desk to report the assault. The suspect later turned himself into the police.

Kansas Counties Expected to Pass Law and get Funds for Caseworker Safety Programs

The bill, expected to be signed by Bush before Christmas, is the latest in a series of initiatives that sprang from Teri Zenner’s slaying 15 months ago. She was stabbed to death in August 2004 while visiting Ellmaker at his Overland Park home.
Johnson County Mental Health officials have instituted new safety procedures, which are being adopted by the state of Kansas. And Matt Zenner has been on a mission to create national caseworker safety legislation he wants known as “Teri’s Law.” Johnson County Mental Health is emphasizing education over the latest technology. For instance, they tried Global Positioning Systems and one-button calling from a cell phone, but they generally proved unsatisfactory.
Instead, other procedural measures were put in place such as potentially violent client’s file will have a tag alerting workers to the possible risks. Caseworkers also are required to alert the staff to their daily schedules by computer, to register their vehicles with the mental health center and to provide photos for better identification should they turn up missing. More significant, initial visits with clients are now more likely to happen in the office, or with two staff members present. During office visits, a copy of a client’s picture ID is taken. Windows have been placed in all doors for better monitoring, and blinds in all rooms are required to be open. Other changes mean that corrections clients will be seen in jail, staffers will wear identification badges and have their photos placed in a county database. Emergency color codes will now alert workers through an overhead paging system when a crisis occurs.
Studies show fear of violence is a reality for caseworkers. As many as one in four social workers have reported some form of attack, Catherine Crisp, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Also, 48 percent of all nonfatal injuries from assaults on the job happen in the social services and health-care fields, says U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Kansas Democrat and former county prosecutor who introduced the $100,000 funding measure for the counties in his district.

12/12 Fayetteville, NC Man Shoots Female Co-Worker at VA Pharmacy

Arthur Charland, 42, is charged in the killing of his supervisor, Pharmacist Linda Leviton, 38. Both worked at the pharmacy of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. According to reports, a 911 dispatcher received a call about 8:15 p.m. from a hospital operator about an irate person in the pharmacy. Charland went to the workplace with a 12-gauge shotgun wrapped as Christmas gift and took it out. loading it as he confronted Leviton whome he shot three or four times. He then went to the hospital police office to inform them about what happened and even brought them to the scene. The two had an on and off relationship which Leviton was trying to end. She had apparently called Charland earlier in the evening and he responded by coming back to work to kill her. She is survived by her two teen-age children.

11/20/2003 Earth City, Missouri Man on Trial for Murder of Ex-Girlfriend in Company Parking Lot

Scott McLaughlin is on trial for the murder of Beverly Guenther, 45, which alledgely took place in the parking lot of her workplace on November 20th, 2003. The police testified that they found the suspect’s car, the victim's blood and a broken knife handle on that parking lot the night she disappeared. The judge has also allowed evidence of her previously made statements stating that she was repeatedly harassed by McLaughlin by phone and in person from Oct. 28 to Nov. 12, 2003 and that at one point, he jumped out of the bushes at the same parking lot. Guenther was scheduled to testify against McLaughlin in Lincoln County Circuit Court in the domestic case on Nov. 21, 2003, the morning after her disappearance. McLaughlin also had prior convictions and is a registered sex offender.

12/5 Shelby, NC Restaurant Owner Threatened by Ex-Con Boyfriend

Leslie Wade Walker Jr., 48, was charged with first-degree kidnapping, larceny of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, assault by pointing a gun and communicating threats after an encounter with girlfriend, Sylvia Gentry. According to sources, Gentry allegedly confronted Walker at the restaurant she owns, about a letter he received from an ex-girlfriend while he was in prison. Walker then went to the back of the restaurant and returned with a .223 caliber rifle, which apparently was kept at the establishment. He then threatened to kill Gentry and leave her body in the cooler and fired two shots inside. No one was hurt and there were no customers in at the time. Walker was later apprehended after a brief chase.

12/6 St. Paul, MN Ex-Employee’s Boyfriend Rapes Worker who Replaced Girlfriend’s Job

Is charged with raping a recently hired store clerk at a Villeda Express where his girlfriend used to work. He entered the store around 5 p.m. wearing a ski mask and ordered the woman into the basement, threatening her with a knife. The worker recognized the man as he frequented the store. In fact, his girlfriend was fired because of his frequent visits to the business. The worker also had her 3 year old son with her who witnessed the assault. Estrada allegedly threatened to take the boy if she did not remove her clothing which she did before he repeatedly assaulted her. When the worker returned upstairs, she noticed that a laptop was missing which was later found in Estrada’s home. After the assault, the co-owners of the store received a call from a man that they recognized as Estranda as he asked them what was going on at the store.

11/30 Fort Oglethorpe, GA Councilman's Wife Attacks other Council member with Candy

Wanda Egeland, the wife of Fort Oglethorpe City Councilman Richard Egeland, came to Moye’s workplace, Rominger and Associates, made derogatory comments and threats to her husband’s colleague Councilwoman Jane Moye. Egeland accused her of having an affair with her husband, which Moye denies. The councilwoman said Mrs. Egeland also snatched an audio tape recorder from Moye’s hand and shredded the tape which was being used to record Egeland’s verbal attack on her. She also through candy at the woman.
Egeland was charged with criminal trespass and simple battery and booked at the Catoosa County Detention Center.

Canadian Survey of Nurses finds that Violence is Common

The Ontario Nurses' Association is taking a strong stance against violence as two of its members lost their lives early this year to intimate partner violence. A recent survey that they did showed:
• 36 per cent of nurses have experienced physical violence in the workplace, the majority physically attacked by patients.
• 67 per cent of nurses say they have been the target of verbal abuse in the workplace. Patients and doctors are the most-reported source of the verbal abuse.
• 11 per cent of nurses report they have been the target of sexual abuse in the workplace. Patients and doctors are the most-reported source of the sexual abuse.

12/1 Millersville, MD Bus Mechanic Askes Co-Workers how to Build Bomb for ex's- new Boyfriend

Wayne Lewis Milburn, 40, a mechanic at Dillon's Bus Service was charged with manufacturing a destructive device, possession of a destructive device, and possession of a handgun. Officers searched his pickup truck and found a Ruger .357 Magnum revolver and ammunition on the passenger seat and the bomb behind that seat.
According to police, Mr. Milburn intended to hurt his estranged wife's boyfriend, a 35-year-old man from Crofton. Authorities were tipped off as he was talking to his co-workers about his plans, and was asking them how to build a bomb and where he could get some more guns.

11/30 Fort Worth, TX Sailor Attempts Suicide at Base

A sailor who wrestled with his supervisors for control of a gun Fort Worth on Thursday remained hospitalized in serious condition Friday, officials said.

The sailor, who has not been identified, was shot in the neck about 12:40 p.m. in an office at Naval Air Station. The sailor went to his workplace to shoot himself but was stopped by two supervisors, Lt. Brian Sullivan and Chief Petty Officer Charles Lackey, who were grazed by the bullet.

The distraught sailor had a "combination of some personal and military issues."

The handgun was a personal weapon, which was not authorized to have on base where only security personnel are allowed to carry handguns on the installation.

New Study Suggests Management Style More than Employee Personality Cause of Violence

Queen's School of Business (Canada) professor Julian Barling is the co-author of a recent study on supervisor-targeted aggression, which was published in the Journal Of Applied Psychology. Barling's findings suggest that aggression against supervisors was a result of perceived feelings of injustice and abusive supervision and not an individual's history of violence or self-esteem. He states that most organizations try to prevent violence try to exclude people through pre-employment screening and not paying enough attention to how they are treated once they are employed. The study was based on responses from questionnaires from 105 employees (78 females, 27 males) at two Canadian universities who worked two jobs, with a different supervisor in each job. Significantly, the study found that supervisor-directed aggression in one job did not translate into aggression against the supervisor in the other job, indicating that much of the aggression was due to conditions in the particular workplace as opposed to the individual's personality.

Maine Agencies to Adopt Domestic Violence Policy

The state of Maine requires its agencies to implement Domestic Violence Policies and train employees in an executive order that Gov. John Baldacci signed last year. The policies will: encourage employees to look for signs of domestic abuse in their co-workers; will offer specific help to employees suffering abuse and outline rules prohibiting any employee from engaging in any form of domestic abuse. The Department of Public Safety now has established on-line training for its 600 employees, who are mandated to complete it. The site is open to the public at www.myworkplacehelp.org.

Lower Convictions for Inmates who Assault NY Public Employee

Alton Hutchinson assault trial ended with a judgment that disappointed the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF). Hutchinson, a former Elmira Correctional Facility inmate was acquitted of the most serious charges and found guilty of 2 second-degree assault charges when he assaulted female counselor in her office. A corrections officer and co-worker discovered the attack in progress, came to her aid and ultimately may have saved her life. In a statement from PEF, “We are concerned the verdict sends the wrong message to inmates that they can continue to commit crimes while incarcerated. All too often, our members are told violence is part of the job. Getting punched, kicked or abused should not be part of anyone's job." Earlier, Governor Pataki vetoed a workplace violence prevention bill supported by PEF and passed by both houses of the Legislature. The bill would have required public employers to assess their workplaces and develop and implement prevention programs.

Half of Young Scots Serving the Public Experience Violence from Clients

Almost half of all Scottish young workers who deal with the public have been exposed to violence, according to new research. A study that is part of a campaign urging people to know their rights in the workplace also found that 31% had been verbally or physically attacked, threatened, sworn or spat at by a member of the public in the last 12 months. However, 48% of those who experience abuse viewing it as "part of the job". Fears are greatest among female workers, with one in five worried about dealing with violence at work. The research, commissioned for the Scottish Executive's Bang Out of Order campaign, was conducted among 16 to 24-year-olds during October. Respondents worked in a range of sectors which deal with the public, including hospitality, retail, fast food, healthcare, call centre and transport organizations.

WI Bill Allowing Employees to Bring Guns to Work

In the Wisconsin state legislature, the Joint Finance committee approved a bill allowing residents to carry concealed weapons in most public places except for youth sporting events; day cares; hospitals, clinics or doctor offices; public or private college campuses; nonprofit organizations that serve children, such as a YMCA; and churches. It may prohibit employers from stopping employees from bringing weapons inside the workplace, except for K-12 schools, taverns and police stations. As the bill stands now, property owners would need to post signs and orally notify every individual in order to ban weapons on their property.

10/28 Charleston, IL Woman Stabbed by Ex-Boyfriend at Substance Abuse Residential Program

Steven B. Decker, 47, is charged with attempted murder as he went to Elizabeth E. Knupp’s workplace at the Central East Alcoholism and Drug Council residential facility and stabbed her numerous times with a steak knife. She had a TRO since Sept. 12th which he violated earlier when he left her a card on her car on Oct. 17th. Knupp stated that she was afraid for her life when she realized Decker had arrived shortly before midnight. He allegedly told her not to do anything when she started to reach for a telephone. She then ran down a hallway and was knocked down as Decker stabbed her on the chest, in the stomach and hands. There was an earlier conviction for domestic battery between them.

11/04 Kitsap, WA Counselor Stabbed by Client during Home Visit

Larry William Clark stabbed Marty Smith to death as he responded to a crisis counseling call at Clark’s mother’s apartment. She had called Kitsap Mental Health Services as Smith had been off his medication. Clark, a counselor, went to the home and decided to bring him in for a mental evaluation. When Clark refused to go, Smith called 911. Clark beat Smith, according to police, then stabbed him to death with a knife.

11/20 Redding, CA Woman Plans Murder of Ex-boyfriend at her Workplace

Six people were arrested in relations to the murder of Leo Wayne Tokarz Rapp, 20. Investigators believe Rapp was lured to the workplace of his former girlfriend, 18-year-old Victoria Rose Sherman. Rapp had allegedly sexually assaulted her and that she and others devised a plan to assault him. As they were leaving town, they hit a ditch which caused the car to flip over. Responding officers then found the body in the trunk. The assault occurred in the garage of the care facility where Sherman worked.

11/12 Windsor, Canada Dr. Stabs Nurse in Hospital then Over-doses

Dr. Mark Daniel, 50, an anesthesiologist at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital stabbed Lori Dupont near the start of her day shift as she was preparing a post-surgery recovery room with another nurse shortly before 9 a.m. He assaulted her with a military style dagger and then fled the scene only to be found a short while later, dying from a overdose of drugs. The two had previous relationship but she ended it earlier this year. He was then removed from duty due to his stalking behavior and because of his suicide attempt, from which she had saved his life. The hospital reportedly had taken numerous security measures to protect Dupont but later some were eased, allegedly with her approval, even after he returned to work at the hospital. She had applied for a TRO against him back in February but the hearing for the trial was still pending while the attack occurred. Daniel later died from the overdose.

11/23 Glen Burnie, MD Former Truck Driver Returns to Shoot Supervisors at Food Distrubution Center

Joe Cobb, 54, entered H&M Wagner & Sons, a food distribution center where he worked as a truck driver and shot 2 former supervisors. Operations Manager Jack Helms was shot twice in the stomach and chief truck driver Ray Hines was shot in the arm before Cobb went outside and committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a .38 caliber handgun. He had worked at the center for 4 years before being fired several weeks ago for misconduct issues. Co-workers stated that although he made no known threats, he was alledgely hostile, had a bad temper and was going through family difficulties. The supervisors were later released from the hospital.

11/11 Houston, TX Abuser/Escapee Show Up at Nightclub Where Victim Works

Santiago J. Gonzalez, 20, escaped from a community residential treatment program that was part of probation for an assault on his girlfriend. He showed up at her workplace, a nightclub at around midnight but was not apprehended by police. Only a few hours later, he was at her apartment with 5 or 6 other men as they kicked in her bedroom and living room windows. Gonzalez and the woman have a child together.

8/04 School Supervisors Tackle Suspended Employee with Assault Rifle

Walter "Pete" Soucy and Vincent Smith received the Hartford Police Dept.’s Distinguished Citizen's Award for their heroic efforts in stopping a workplace violence tragedy. The two confronted and subdued a suspended employee who showed up armed with a loaded Colt AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. The suspect, who had three clips on him, was suspended for drinking on the job by Soucy.

11/12 Easton, MD Applebee’s Workers Shot into Van after Work

Jermiar Singletary, 29 and Deaven Smith, 27, were leaving work at the restaurant when Singletary allegedly got into an argument with a man who was waiting in the parking lot for another employee. The man alledgely provoked the workers and rammed Singletary's vehicle with his van. According to police, Singletary retrieved a gun from his vehicle and fired 3 times, once into the man's van. The firearm was later found by law enforcement and stopped the two men on another street.

8/17 Haverford Township, PA Man Stabs Wife to Death at Mattress Factory

Kevin Sullivan, 45, allegedly stabbed his wife to death while she was at work at the Verlo Mattress Factory near a shopping center. Lori Sullivan, 39, was assaulted with a hunting style knife and was struck on the right side of her neck. Police were called at 1:50 p.m. and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The next day, a witness told police that Sullivan had called him the day before at about 1:38 p.m. and allegedly said, "I f--- up. I think I killed Lori."

9/27 Crete, Greece Man Kills Wife for Custody of Son

A 50-year-old man confessed to killing his 43-year old wife. He alleges to want to reunite with her but the received a court notice regarding the custody of their youngest boy. He shot her twice with a hunting rifle as she was leaving her workplace.

10/31 Tysons Corner, VA Woman Rescued from Sexual Assault in Bathroom

Benyamen Marshall, 27, was charged with abduction as he sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom at her workplace. It was lunchtime when a few men heard screaming inside of the Ladies room. One man entered and tried to pull the Marshall off the 23-year old victim but was also assaulted. As the door was then locked, the other men had to beat down the door to rescue them. Allegedly, the doors to the bathroom had been locked, requiring a key but that procedure was dropped because of inconvenience.

9/25 Rockville, MD Customer Assaults Employee at Best Buy

Giovanna Saenz, 41, the managing director of a Community Ministries organization, was charged with three counts of second-degree assault and resisting arrest after a dispute over a refund with a customer service representative. She was in a Best Buy, trying to return an MP3 player but when she was refused, she became enraged and threw two MP3 players and a CD player, striking an employee. After police arrived, she refused to leave. When officers tried to escort her, she struck him on the face with an open right hand and knocked down an employee en route to the door, according to the charges. She was then apprehended by police and charged with assault.

9/26 Port Washington, NY Man Takes Teenager from Workplace Whom He Met On-Line

Daniel Gillott, 37, was charged with with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse when he took a teen-ager from work place and assaulted her. They had met on-line and exchanged e-mails. He was able to figure out where she worked through her extensive online profile. Gillott waited until the teenager went outside for a break, at around 4 p.m. He approached her, engaged her in a conversation, then allegedly lured the girl into his car through threats and had inappropriate and forcible sexual contact with her. It's unclear whether the girl returned to her job after the alleged attack, but that night she told her parents about the incident, and they called police and filed a report. He was arrested 3 days later.

10/18 North Lauderdale, Fla. Woman Stabs Co-Worker over Microwave Use

A south Florida woman stabbed another female co-worker as they worked at a Walgreens store. The pair, 20 and 23, had an ongoing dispute that came to a head. The offender used a large kitchen knife and stabbed the other in the abdomen over a fight about use of the workplace microwave oven. The two fought over the knife until the store manager managed to separate them and sent to separate hospitals.

10/21 Syosset, NY Man Stabs Boss with Steak Knife

Darlin Fajardo, 35, stabbed his boss, Robert Sisia, 51, on a Friday morning at Tassone Equipment Corp. The two began to argue around 12 Noon though it is not yet known what the two were fighting about. Fajardo used a steak knife when he struck Sisia in the chest, killing him. He then drove away and is sought by police. According to accounts, Fajardo had a bad temper and got upset a lot, fighting with other workers often.

Waitress Denied UI Benefits after Fired for Horse-play

Susan C. Medeiros, who had worked for 22 years as a hostess at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, was fired July 30, 2000, after she jokingly placed her hands around the throat of a co-worker and shook her for about five seconds. Recently, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that she would not be eligible for unemployment benefits under state law. The situation was that a co-worker who was dissatisfied with a work schedule complained, and as a result, many workers found their schedules changed. The incident that got Medeiros fired was fairly unremarkable to anyone who's ever worked in a restaurant. Medeiros, a senior hostess, came up behind the co-worker, put her hands around her neck and shook her lightly while laughingly saying, "It's all because of you." The co-worker reported the incident to a manager and Medeiros was fired. Her employer’s stance is that her conduct was in deliberate disregard of the standards of behavior which they expect of all employees.

10/23 Lake Worth, FLa Man Attacks Ex-Wife with Butcher Cleaver at Market

Rudolph Burke, 48, was charged with attempted first-degree murder when he attacked his ex-wife at her workplace. Merl Samuels was working at the Lake Worth Drive-in market when her ex-husband arrived around 12:30 p.m. He attaked her with a butcher cleaver, striking her in the neck, face and leg before trying to run off. Witnesses tackled him and held him down till law enforcement arrived. She is fair condition.

10/14 Durham, NC Duke Professor Charged with Simple Assault of Employee

Dr. Samuel Wells, 69 and a professor of surgery for the Duke University School of Medicine, was arrested for allegedly grabbing the arm of a female Duke employee. He was apparently attempting to restrain her from leaving on her way to work, according to the warrant and arrest report. The incident took place at 6:27 a.m. and the victim called the police who took her to the magistrate’s office. The relationship between Wells and his accuser and the circumstances surrounding the event are unknown.

10/14 Hickory, NC Man Shoots Wife at her Job in Hospital

Howard McGrady, 62, walked into the outpatient unit of Frye Regional Medical Center and shot at his wife, Judy McGrady 3 times with a .44 magnum revolver. She had left him earlier in the week for unknown reasons. She working her job as a transcriptionist when he found her at her office which is off a hallway that leads from the common waiting area. It was around 10:40 am when he stood in the hallway, outside her office and started firing. Co-workers tackled him and held him till security arrived. Fortunately as the assault occurred in a hospital, she was able to receive quick emergency care and is expected to recover.

10/14 Orlando, FL Man Points Sub-Machine Gun at Wife at Wal-Mart

Jose D. Hernandez, 37, walked into his wife’s workplace at approximately 5 pm in the evening and pointed a Tech-9, an assault rifle that is easily adapted to be fully automatic. It was at her Wal-Mart store when he found her, pointed the "now legal" assault rifle and pulled the trigger but it did not fire. He was later found inside a home by officers. As he was trying to load the weapon while ordered to drop it, he was killed by the responding officers. There had been more than 20 previous domestic disturbance calls to their home in the past and a recent one lead to an appointed with a prosecutor to file charges against him. But as she did not show up for the meeting, charges where never filed.

10/12 Trinidad Man Stabs Wife to Death at Gas Station

Rooplal Nandlal, 42, was charged with stabbing to death his wife Radha, 41, at an NP Quik Shoppe gas station where she worked as a cleaner. She was stabbed times in the neck, chest and arms and died as her lungs and liver were punctured. The attacked occurred during the work day as dozens of people saw her die.

10/10 Clinton, MD Man Sets Wife on Fire at Cell Phone Store

Roger Brian Hargrave, 33, was charged with attempted murder and assault when he attempted to burn Yvette Cade to death. Witnesses stated that he entered a cellular telephone store in and confronted Mrs. Cade, who was trying to end their abusive marriage. He threw gasoline on her and then set her on fire. Cade tried to obtain a restraining order in August but the order was rescinded last month when the judge decided that there was not enough evidence of a physical threat. She is expected to recover.

10/7 Edgewater, MD Man Kills Ex-Girlfriend’s Boss and Associate at Mortgage Firm

Michael Wayne Baxter Jr., 30, shot and killed Kenneth Brian Kertesz, 43, and wounded William Augustus Snow, 44, who was not an employee but an associate also present. He then drove his truck to a nearby drugstore and killed himself. The shooting, which occurred at Universal Mortgage and Finance, was committed just before 3:30 pm. A Prince George’s county police spokesman stated that the shooting was domestic in nature, but did not elaborate. Other sources state the shooting was a result of a breakup between Michael Wayne Baxter and Erin McLaughlin, an employee of mortgage firm. On the day of the tragedy, McLaughlin wasn't at work, but Baxter still came to the firm to commit the assault.

10/7 Houston, TX Ex-Employee Returns to Kill Employer During Robbery

Kevin Christian Martin, 26, a fired Jason's Deli employee, returned with two friends with plans to rob his former workplace and ended up killing his former boss, Ryan David Martin, 29 (no relation). Kevin was fired him less than two weeks earlier for using a customer's credit card. Testimony revealed that Martin recruited two friends to burglarize the deli while it was closed and steal money from the safe but when they arrived, the owner was inside working. Although Ryan Martin, who had two young children, did not resist, he was shot in the neck and died in a back office, testimony revealed.

10/5 West Palm Beach, FL Employer Shot by Ex-Boyfriend of Employee during Rosh Hashanah Services

Marc Benayers, 79, shot Jonathan Samuels, 44, at a synagogue during Rosh Hashanah prayer service. While this was not at either man’s employment, a job-related relation was the source of the dispute. Samuals was the employer of Maria Pinto, Benayer’s ex-girlfriend. Benayer had allegedly been stalking and threatening her for months, as well as her 16-year-old daughter and her two bosses. Despite the threatening letters and numerous calls to police, allegedly they weren't able to get Benanyer arrested. At work, it became as issue as "She was always crying, always howling at her desk," said Mark Levy, Samuel’s business partner. They had tried to help their employee leave her abusive relationship and even assisted in her application for a restraining order and obtaining full ownership of her home. According to family members, Benayers came to the temple with a gun and called Samuels out of the temple. He then tried to talk it over once more but when he walked away, Samuals was shot in the back twice. He is in critical condition. While being taken into custody Tuesday by Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies, Benayer stated, “(he) got a restraining order against me. . .He is the mastermind, the engineer of my destruction.”

FL Bill to Allow Workers to Bring Gun to Work

Two state lawmakers, backed by the National Rifle Association, have filed bills in the Florida legislature that would allow workers to have guns at work, as long as the weapons remain locked in their vehicles. With this particular bill, employers could even face up to 5 years in prison if they try to stop employees from bringing guns to work in their cars. The bill, HB 129 and SB 206, will be introduced in the 2006 legislative year which starts in March. Additional language attempts to allievate businesses concerns by shielding companies from lawsuits should an employee commit a crime with the gun kept in a car on company property. Thus even if a company should know of a threat to coworkers, as long as the gun came from the perpetrators car in the employee lot, they would be immune to civil action. Most of the major employers in Florida have a no-weapons policy.

9/26 Warwick, NY Former Employee, Fired for Child Pornography, Returned to Shoot 3 Supervisors then Self

Victor M. Piazza, 55, returned to his former workplace after he was fired 19 months ago to shoot 3 bosses before killing himself with a .38-caliber revolver. He was a quality control manager at ,Verla International, a nail polish factory when he was fired when they found child pornography on his computer at work. The previous Friday, Mr. Piazza was charged with violating his probation when officers showed up unannounced and found an open bottle of vodka and adult pornographic DVDs in his bedroom. There charges would most likely led to his detention. The two co-owners and other office manager survived but the latter is in very critical condition. "I don't remember anything unusual about him except that his wife was afraid of him," said Orange County Assistant District Attorney Robert Ostrov, who prosecuted the child pornography case. "She didn't want her daughter spending time with him. She thought he was dangerous." May of the employees of Verla also said they were not shocked Piazza was behind the shootings.

9/15 Chattanooga, TN Rent-a-Center Client Attacks When Asked for Back Payments

Gale Ford was a customer of Rent-A-Center and was late on payments. When Jonathan Nash came to collect, she came out of the door, cursing and yelling at him. As he turned to walk back to his truck, she jumped off the porch and shoved him in the back. He kept walking, but then she grabbed a hammer and started running toward him. He said her boyfriend grabbed her just in time before she could hit him with the hammer. She was taken to the County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault.

7/20 Ocean City, MD Hooters Waitress Stabs Other Over Slander

Cecily Tabia Caldwell, 19, was sentenced to seven days in jail for first- and second-degree assault and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure when she attacked another young female co-worker at the Hooter’s Restaurant where she worked. At approximately 11 p.m, police responded to the scene where they found Caldwell outside. The victim later admitted saying negative things about Caldwell, who later found out. As a result, Caldwell overreacted and stabbed her several times during an altercation outside of the restaurant.

8/1 St. Paul, MN Clerk Shoots Self by Accident with Gun Bought by Employer for Protection

Nail Mahmoud’ death has been ruled an accidental death as he was shot in the head while working at the Quick Stop gas station. It was determined that while he was handling the firearm, it went off, striking him in the head, after he watch he dropped the gun back in the drawer. There was gun-powder residue on his hand. The family blames the owner of the store who bought the gun after a recent attempted robbery. He allegedly trained his employees on its use and advised not to keep a round in the chamber.

Westchester County, NY Adopts Policy Barring Discrimination against Victims

Recently, the Board of Legislators of Westchester County, NY adopted their human-rights law so that landlords and employers will be forbidden from discriminating against victims of sex abuse, domestic violence and stalking.

“To bring such a claim, a person must have notified the employer or landlord of the situation by producing a police report, restraining order or testimonial from a doctor, minister, counselor or similar professional. Alternatively, the person could argue that he or she had been discriminated against simply based on perception" by filing a complaint with the county Human Rights Commission, which can issue cease-and-desist orders or demand monetary damages.

Please visit to view the article at

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050928/NEWS02/509280374/1018

9/21 Christ Church, Barbados Woman Stabbed to Death at Work

20-year-old Marissa Clarke was stabbed to death at her workplace by an assailant who had threatened her just hours before in the presence of two lawmen. An investigation of the incident and why he was not arrested when he made the threat is being conducted by the Commissioner of Police.

9/13 London, UK Former Security Guard Murders Woman, then Self

Michael Pech, 30, murdered Clare Bernal, 22, at her beauty county at Harvey Nichols, an exclusive department store. He had been a security guard there but was fired for harassing her after their brief dating relationship. Just before 7.45 pm, in breach of a court order preventing contact with his former girlfriend, Pech calmly walked into the store and began talking to Bernal across the counter. He then went behind the counter and shot her, killing her and then himself. In the following week Pech was due to be sentenced for harassing Ms Bernal and could have faced up to six months in jail. He had previous stated “If I can’t have you nobody will.”

9/12 Vallejo, CA Man Runs Over Wife

Alfred Digiandomenico, 38 allegedly ran over his wife 44-year-old Dianna Digiandomenico as they were removing a portable office trailer from the El Toro Fire Station at about 5:53 p.m. When the police arrived, she was lying in the cab of a pickup truck, where her husband put her after she fell out of the bed of truck and he ran her over with the rear wheels. Witnesses state that the couple were having an argument when the husband pulled out of the area in a cloud of dust, and that the wife, who had been sitting on the driver's side bed rail, fell off. As he apparently made a sharp U-turn, he ran over her legs and lower body as she lay on the road. The couple operated a transportation and hauling business. He is being held on an unrelated parole violation.

7/11 Sheldon, VT Sniper Kills Man on Tractor

33-year-old Kenneth "Kenny" Jerome was murdered by a sniper who shot him with a .22 while he was working on the Diamond Hill Custom Heifers farm. He lived and worked there with his girlfriend Jennifer Miller. Miller had been supporting the investigation that led to the conviction of her former husband, 36-year-old Dennis Harrness on charges of arson. Harness and his brother, Tommy, had allegedly been stalking and harassing Miller before and since the trial. While suspected by many in the community, neither have been charged yet.

AU Study Shows Prevalence of Violence against Women at Work

A new report by The Office of Women's Policy of the Victorian State in Australia suggests that violence against women at work is widespread and common. The study is called Safe at Work? Women's Experience of Violence in the Workplace and shows that 61 per cent of Victorian women have experienced violence in the workplace in the past five years. The report, which surveyed 1000 women, also showed that only 59 per cent of these women reported incidents to their employers. But there is an impact; more than 11 per cent of respondents took sick leave to deal with the problem while another 3.5 per cent were making WorkCover claims (similar to USA’s Workers Compensation). The office is accepting submission on what can be done to address this issue till November 11.

NHS (UK) Joins the Corporate Alliance against Domestic Violence

The National Health Service (NHS) has joined other organizations such as the Body Shop International, BBC, AOL Time Warner, KPMG and Vodafone to join the Corporate Alliance against Domestic Violence. The NHS is the largest employer in Europe. This association, comprised of more than two million UK workers, takes a stand against domestic violence that impacts their workplace and their employees’ lives. As part of its campaign, NHS Employers has published on-line guidance for employers and employees who know or may be victims of domestic violence.

9/2 Sagamihara, Japan Bar Patron Stalks then Slashes Waitress

Koji Nojima, 40, an unemployed man, was arrested for attempting to murder a waitress of a local bar. At around 9:53 p.m., the 33-year-old woman had just arrived at the bar when Nojima ambushed her, pushing her down and slashing her neck with a knife. Eyewitnesses alerted the police who arrested Nojima at the scene. The victim suffered slight slash wounds.
Nojima began drinking at the bar last year. After she rejected his advances, he continued to stalked her and sending e-mails to her mobile phone. Last March, the woman consulted local police over his stalking behavior. The police then instructed Nojima in May to leave the woman alone which stopped the visits to the bar and e-mails.

AU Hospital Fined $100,000 for Assault on Nurse

Hunter New England Health was fined more than $100,000 for violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act over an incident at its Morisset Psychiatric Hospital in 2001. A nurse was working alone in the hospital's courtyard when he was assaulted, requiring hospital treatment for his injuries resulting in a total of 17 days off work. The Act, similar to the USA OSHA general duty clause, requires employers to provide safe workplace for their employees. In addition to the fine, the Industrial Relations Commission directed the health service to pay the legal costs of the prosecutor.

Michigan Post Office Investigation Reports Hostile Work Environment

Royal Oaks Post Office was under investigation for allegations that management is creating a hostile work environment. This was the scene of the November 1991 tragedy when fired postal employee Thomas McIlvane — the target of harassing disciplinary actions —killed four workers, wounded four others and then committed suicide. After Sen. Carl Levin forwarded a petition signed by 200 longtime Royal Oak and Madison Heights workers expressing fear that an incident may repeat if something wasn't done, an investigation was commenced.
A survey in the report stated that the overwhelming majority of individuals perceive the climate in Royal Oak as highly charged, borderline hostile, tense and pressure filled. The report went on to summarize that: "... the workplace climate at Royal Oak, while not as bad as in 1991, was deteriorating. Discipline was overused, creating fear and intimidation among the employees. Communications between management and the union and the employees is poor. Limited and light duty employees have been targeted for excessive discipline in an attempt to intimidate. The safety program is not cooperative and positive but negative, and focuses on discipline to get results. Some of the union stewards and some of the employees are not interested in any change and use the tragedy of 1991 as a reason to be uncooperative."
Among the recommendations, it stated that the post master general should learn to how to handle employees more humanely while union leaders not be so adversarial. The friction between employees, management and union leaders has been recognized as a root factor in previous postal shootings.

8/22 Orfordville, WI Man Confronts Supervisor with Shotgun

Curtis P. Clint, 36, was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide after he confronted a supervisor in the break room with a loaded shotgun. The supervisor grabbed the barrel while 3 other workers restrained and disarmed Clint. The shotgun muzzle had been outfitted with a plastic milk jug in what police think was a makeshift silencer. No shots were fired. Immediately after the incident, Clint told two fellow employees that he had trouble with the supervisor and was "going to end it." Clint was being evaluated to see if his mental state is a possible defense.

8/20 Allentown, PA Women Murdered by Man after Trying to Get Rid of Firearms

Kelvin C. Courtright, 42, murdered Erin A. Young, 28, outside her workplace near Allentown's Queen City Airport. If was just before 8 a.m. when she arrived at SHI-APD Cryogenics. As she pulled into the parking space, she allegedly saw Courtright approach her with a gun. She called her friend and told her to call the police. When they arrived, she was found dead in her car.
The tragedy is even greater since it was only 8 days ago when officers responded to a disturbance call at her home. She stated that she was going to sell his two 9 mm handguns and wanted him out of her home as he was not paying his share of the bills. He had moved in 6 months earlier. The officers took the guns that night but had to release them back to him the next day when he provided proof of ownership. It is unknown if he used these weapons to kill her. Courtright had a criminal history including 3 previous protection order from other women. He was fired from his position as a corrections officer last year for fighting with another guard. He was also sued for harassing former female inmates.

8/12 Loyalhanna PA Wife of Man on Strike Threatens Temporary Workers

Lori Jo Gross was the wife of man who was on strike at Aero Diecasting. She allegedly followed three temporary workers who crossed the picket line from the plant till they stopped at an intersection. She then pointed a .380-caliber pistol at them and called them "scabs," police said the men told them. By tracking the liscence plate number, they found her and the pistol.

8/10 Cleveland, OH Ex-Employee Returns to Ram Cars in Company Lot with SUV

Anthony Harris, 45, was arrested after he assaulted co-workers and damaged property at the business he was just fired from earlier in the day. On an early Wednesday morning, he returned to Alkon Industries and attacked former co-workers. He then climbed into a Ford Excursion and rammed 17 vehicles in the company parking lot. He fled after hitting a man in the face with a rock and pushing another car off the road. He was later arrested in a nearby home.

Man charged with blackmail, kidnapping and assault

Jeffrey Lane Hallock was arrested Monday and charged with blackmail, kidnapping and assaulting his ex-wife. His ex-wife told police that when she visited him at work he began questioning her about a new relationship. When she tried to leave the building, he grabbed her by the hair, locked the door, and bit her on the mouth. He also threatened to email pictures of her naked to her co-workers.

NRA Launches Campaign to Boycott ConocoPhillips

The NRA pushed a law through Oklahoma to preventing employers from prohibiting firearms on their property. It also allows employees to sue their employers for putting such rules in place. Since ConocoPhillips has joined a federal lawsuit to repeal the law, the NRA has launched a boycott campaign againt the gasolien service station.
Please review the previous post on a study of the increased risk of homicide in workplaces that allow firearms in April's newsletter.

8/2 Kalihi, HI Man Hits, Stabs then Shoots Co-worker with Slingshot

A man allegedly stabbed a co-worker with a pair of scissors Tuesday as part of a series of attacks on the victim.
A 28 year old suspect got into an argument with his 24-year-old victim at about 2:45 p.m. It escalated till the suspect allegedly punched and the stabbed the victim in the face with a pair of scissors. other co-workers restrained the suspect till he was able to flee. He then later returned and shot the victim with a slingshot. He was arrested and released pending the trial.

7/28 Fresno, CA Would-be Serial Killer Thwarted by Victim’s Resistance

Will Calcote, 21, crashed his vehicle and died while being pursued by California Highway Patrol officers. He had attempted to kidnap a 19-year-old waitress at a restaurant that he frequently visited. He waited till her shift ended at 11 pm and offered an opportunity in obtaining a modeling job. He asked her to come back to his placed to sign some papers. But once in the car, he turned violent, repeatedly using a tazer on her and threatening to kill her. The victim fought back and eventually jumped from the car while it was going at approximately 35 mph. Calcote stopped the car but as other vehicles stopped to assist he sped off. A witness came to help her and call law enforcement was notified. He was then later spotted and the chase ensued. In Calcote’s trunk, officers discovered a chilling array of tools: a video camera, ropes, duct tape, handcuffs, knives, a large ax, heavy-duty rubber gloves and large plastic garbage bags. A search of Calcote’s Fresno apartment turned up books and videos about famous serial killers, including a how-to for serial killing; it is unknown if he had previous victims.

7/27 Richland, WI Co-Worker Kills Other, then Turns Himself In

Reuben A. Wipf, 21, was charged with the murder of Robert Hege, 19, which occurred at their job at A-1 Pallet. Alledgly, Wipf and Hege did not get along and after a meeting to discuss their problems, Wipf quit and walked out. He went to his home, retreived his shotgun and returned to kill Hege. Wipf then drove to the sheriff’s department and turn himself in. In a statement to authorities, Wipf stated that “the devil made him do it”.

7/28 Bartlesville, OK Co-Worker Escorting Victim Employee Run Down by Abuser

Joel Don Harmon, 30, was charged with allegedly running down another man with his car. While this incident did not happen at work, it stemmed from a co-worker trying to help another. Harmon went to his girlfriend’s workplace at 12:30 a.m and began screaming at her. He was then escorted by security from the facility. But when it was time for the woman to go home, a co-worker offered to follow her home to ensure her safety. It was there that Harmon confronted her again in the driveway. She demanded that he leave which he did. The co-worker escort was standing in the driveway when Harmon struck him as he drove out. Harmon waited at the scene a few blocks down till police arrived: he claimed that the man struck his windshield, breaking it with his hand. Responding officers felt that this was unlikely.

Woman Accused of Arranging Assault on Husband

Woman Accused of Arranging Assault on Husband

Tomah, Wis.

Kathleen “Kitty” Steckel, 51, of Stevens Point, Wis. is accused of hiring a man to take a baseball bat to her estranged husband, who she lured out of his workplace for the attack. Steckel offered a man she met at an after-bar party Sunday night $500 to “send a message to her husband.” After the party Eteckel and Eric C. Carlson stopped at a Wal-Mart in Tomah, where Carlson said, “Kitty picked out the baseball bat.”
The husband said he received a surprise call from his wife Monday morning at Americold’s Essex Avenue warehouse, where he works. He came outside and was walking toward Steckel’s car when he heard a noise behind him, and turned to see Carlson swinging a bat at his head. He defended himself with his left arm, which was seriously injured and broken.
Carlson told police he and Steckel first met Sunday night, and she told him her husband had physically and verbally abused her. She didn’t want him dead but “in pain.” After leaving Tomah, the pair threw the bat out the window and left town. Carlson said Steckle only gave him $5.

Bullying in Law Profession

Bullying is Not Uncommon in the Law Profession

Several recent surveys have suggested that bullying is rife throughout the profession of law- with around thirty percent of all lawyers experiencing bullying.
Mahlab’s annual survey found that nearly one quarter of private practice lawyers surveyed said they had been the subject of bullying behavior, including intimidation, shouting, persistent and unjustified criticism. Nearly seventy percent experienced humiliation through sarcasm, criticism or insulting.
A 2003 NSW Law Society survey of 1800 lawyers, in which 54.2 percent of respondents reported being bullied or intimidated, with 32.9 percent of them women. Those new to the job or in a low-status position were likely to be victims of bullying.
In an effort to find out whether bullying was systemic in law firms, the Law Institute of Victoria conducted a survey of 265 clerks that found 47 per cent had suffered some form of harassment, bullying or intimidation at work. Almost a quarter of respondents reported discrimination in the workplace and 23 per cent said they had received negative or unfair comments about them or their work. Seven per cent said they had experienced physical intimidation or assault.
The problem can be hard to address within firms because the bullies are often high performing, high-billing lawyers who justify their behavior as a result of working in a robust environment. However, the profession is starting to take notice. At the Law Society Council, possible penalties for bullying were raised recently, to include removing practicing certificated in severe cases. An education campaign began last year with the statewide distribution of CD-ROM that defined bullying behavior. In September last year, a Melbourne solicitor had his practicing certificate cancelled and was fined $16,500 for misconduct that included bullying his articled clerk.