New Jersey Bill Would Help Victims with Employment Leave

New legislation was introduced in the legislature of New Jersey that will provide employment support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act or NJ SAFE would allow them to take up to 20 unpaid days off from work to meet legal or counseling needs , such as attending court, medical or counseling services. Joan Voss (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor of the legislation, states, "One key to being free from an abuser is economic independence. Ensuring that victims will not lose their jobs because of necessary treatment and court hearings can mean the difference between being liberated from their abusers or sliding back into their menacing grips." Under the legislation, an employer can require a worker who was a victim of domestic or sexual violence to use all of the individual's sick days before permitting the unpaid leave. An employer may also require proof the time off is needed for legal matters or counseling but would have to keep the information confidential.

Luxembourg Conference Held by the International Labor Organization

In March, a landmark conference focused on safe working conditions for government inspectors. This stemmed form a series of assaults, including when two French Labor Inspectors were killed by a farmer in Dordogne in September 2004.They were investigating the contracts of seasonal workers employed at the farm. In Brazil, 3 labor inspectors were murdered execution-style in January 2004 at a soybean plantation where slave labor was allegedly occurring. The conference concentrated on holistic approach to increase the safety and security of government inspectors. The core mission of these investigators is to ensure the safety and security of workers.
One program that was suggested is SafeWork, a training manual on social skills, enabling inspectors to reduce tensions and remove fears from the inspected. The project was tested in Bulgaria, which reportedly transformed the Bulgarian Labour Inspectorate into an efficiently and effectively performing state administration.

3/21- East London, South Africa- Man Shoots Wife, then Himself

The 33 year old husband of Yandiswa Bewula, 32, arrived at her workplace at around 9:30 a.m. when the two began to argue. He then took out a 9mm and fired 8 shots at her. Five stuck in the chest. He then shot himself in the left foot. Both were taken to the hospital where he is under suicide watch and is expected to be charged with attempted murder.

3/23, Whitehall, OH – Fired Employee Commits Suicide at Office

Reggie Edwards, 47, was fired from his salesman’s job for job performance issues at Safe Auto Insurance when he went out to his car and returned with a gun. He fired shots inside and then took the human resources administrator hostage. Law enforcement quickly arrived as he barricaded himself and his hostage at around 4:15 p.m. Negotiations were going well and the hostage was released at 10:45 p.m. Edwards then killed himself shortly afterwards. In 2000, he won the Salesman of the Year award.

3/3/05, Beech Grove, IN- Hospital Manager put on Leave for Alleged Assault on Employee

David McRoberts, manager of catheterization labs at Francis Hospital and Health Centers, was put on leave after he was accused of assault on Bryan Taylor, a hospital technician. Reportedly, McRoberts "grabbed the front of Bryan's shirt with both hands and pushed Bryan backwards into a wall," Taylor also told police that McRoberts cursed at him and threatened to write him up. This allegedly happenedn in McRoberts' office at around 1:45 p.m. McRoberts claims that he never touched Taylor. McRobert’s attorney is claiming that Taylor is copying a similar recent lawsuit complaint in which St. Francis heart surgeon, Dr. Daniel H. Raess, was ordered to pay $325,000 to a former hospital employee for verbal assault in 2001.

March 2005, Peoria, IL: City Obtains a Restraining Order against Disbarred Attorney

City officials in Peoria obtained a temporary restraining order against a disbarred attorney, Chase Ingersoll, whom they say sent e-mails threatening the city manager and two employees. Ingersoll states that is just a diversion from the city’s attempt to obstruct homeowners' rights. The restraining order prohibits Ingersoll from going to City Hall without having official business there. It also bars from him from being within 500 feet of Sonni Williams, a city attorney, City Manager Randy Oliver and Thomas Higgins, a local attorney who presides over the city's housing court, unless he has official business. All three city employees felt threatened by the tone of Ingersoll's e-mails. One of which reportedly stated, "I hope you took my previous warning about Williams and Higgins seriously. I've seen bigger scamers (sic) than these two, but not everyone is so jaded. They play their little game with the wrong person and there is no telling whatcould happen to them or anyone around them." In response to the order, Ingersoll referred to the officials “as being little crybabies”.

3/23/05 Arlington, IL – Man Takes Manager Hostage

Tylon Cole was an employee of Planned Plumbing when he entered a heated argument with two of his supervisors at around 5 a.m. He took out a handgun and fired into the air. When a manager told Cole to calm down, he shot a supervisor, who was lying on the floor, twice in the leg. He then ordered the manager to drive him to Elgin where he then fled. He was later apprehended by law enforcement. The manager was taken to the hospital for suffering from chest pains.

2/2005 Curlew, Washington Social Worker Attacked before Assailant Killed by Officer

A child Protection Service worker was severly injured after she was assaulted during a home visit. She had arrived with another CPS worker and a deputy to remove 3 children from the home. On a previous visit, the father, Bryan S. Russell, 35, had been warned that they children would be removed unless he improved the living conditions in their home. There was no electricity and no running water. The worker was assaulted with a 2X4 and then a machete. She suffered cuts, a broken arm and wrist and a possible skull fracture. A deputy was able to respond and shot the assailant, killing him at the scene. The three children, ages 1-5, witnessed the incident. The mother is also expecting another child shortly.
A 1994 survey Montana child-welfare workers, published in the journal Child Welfare, found that one in 10 had been hit on the job and a third of the workers had faced death threats. A quarter of the surveyed workers feared their own families could face job-related violence.

3/19/05 San Diego, CA – Girlfriend Stabs Man at his Workplace

Cindy Marie McLaughlin, 34, stabbed her boyfriend after she visited him at his workplace. The incident occurred on Saturday at about 8:30 p.m. It is unknown for the reason for the assault however the state of the victim after the assault may have raised come concerns. Officers needed to handcuff James Robert Browder, 26, to his hospital gurney due to his belligerent behavior. Although he initially accused McLaughlin of the assault, he later stated that he fell on the knife. When asked how long the knife was that stabbed him, he replied, “Big enough to cut your heart out." Both victim and assailant were suspected of drinking before the assault.

3/14/05- Frederick, MD – Water Treatment Plant Fires Guns at Work

Donald Lee Smith, 58, opened up fire at the Marcies' Choice Lane plant which treats wastewater. He brought a handgun and a rifle just after 8 p.m. and started to “shooting around” the plant. No one was injured and it appears that he was not aiming at anyone. Numerous officers responded and were able to convince him to surrender after 15 minutes of negotiations. He was sent to a hospital for a mental evaluation and was later released and arrested.

3/2/05- Belleville, Ill. Hairdresser and Two Elderly Clients Stabbed to Death

Michael Cooney, 62, was cutting the hair of two of his regular customers, two sisters Doris Fischer and Dorothy Bone when they were savagely attacked. A St. Louis man, Samuel Johnson, was charged with attempted burglary of Cooney's house 15 months ago but has not been charged with the murders. He is fighting extradition in Chicago and is a leading suspect in the homicides. It is unknown the relationship between Cooney and Johnson.

3/3/05- Decatur, IL- Brother Stabs Worker to Death at Work

LaWarren Thomas stabbed his brother DiAngilos at LaWarren’s workplace. A physical confrontation occurred when his brother and others were visiting. They were punching each other when DiAngilos stopped and complained that he could not breath. Lifting up his shirt, they found blood on his chest. They drove him to the hospital and reported that he was attacked by four unknown men. LaWarren claimed that he was at work and did not know what happened. The stab wound was found to have penetrated the heart and the victim later died in the hospital. Later investigation discovered the truth of the incident.

2/10/05 - Pittsburgh, PA Navy Employee Beats Supervisor Unconscious

Roderick Adams, a civilian computer systems administrator for the Navy, was charged with assaulting Senior Master Chief Scott Ewen. Ewen, who was not the direct supervior, was telling Adams to calm down after the Adams was yelling in the office. That is when he followed Ewens into his office, pushed him in the corner and repeatedly pummeled him till he was unconscious. Ewens suffered from a fractured cheekbone. Adams then fled on foot but was later arrested in him home.

3/10/05- Vista, CA – Man Attacks Ex-wife with Tire Iron

At around 9 a.m., Harry Hemphill, 41, walked into his ex-wife’s workplace and severely beat her with a tire iron. He went straight to her office and locked her in there with him at Maric College, a technical college. Other co-workers tried to rescue her but he inflicted serious wounds to her head. He then fled the scene only to be captured later that night. As the college also had a nursing school, the victim was able to receive immediate medical attention before she was transferred to a hospital.

2/24 – Hoosick, NY – Co-Worker is Stabbed When Horse-play Goes to Far

Pedro Ortiz, an employee of WCW Inc., allegedly stabbed another employee after the two were “horsing around”. Other co-workers state that the two were friends but that a scuffle just got out of hand. The victim allegedly threw an object at Ortiz who told him to stop it or else. A fight ensued when the offender stabbed the victim for times with a seam-ripper, a tool used at the mattress company. Co-workers quickly broke the fight up and the victim was sent to the hospital to tend to his wounds.

AU Nurses Demand Safer Work Conditions

The Australian Nursing Federation has petitioned the government to increase safety measures at the Launceston General Hospital psychiatric Ward 1E. Due to the number of violent assaults on staff, the following adaptations are requested: Staff shall be notified when a client with a history of violent behavior was to be admitted; all admissions are assessed through the emergency department and not just dropped off at the door of 1E with no warning; and the high dependency unit should be staffed with at least two people at all times. There were additional requests surrounding 24-hour security and the appropriate training of the response team. The Federation fears that if these measures are not adopted, it will lead to senior and highly qualified nurses leaving the unit.

Employee and Client of VA Hospital Sentenced for Shooting- Murfreesboro, TN

A criminal court case was settled recently regarding a shooting at the Alvin York VA Medical Center two years ago. Michael Gardner was a janitorial supervisor and was receiving medical attention for his mental health issues. However, he was receiving counseling and medication from a pharmacist who was not authorized to provide such treatment. He was documented for having ''homicidal ideations''. Then on Oct. 7, 2003, he walked the hallways of the hospital firing birdshot at co-workers and at responding police officers. He then dropped his shotgun and surrendered before anyone was injured. He received an 8-year sentence. A federal tort claim against the hospital is still pending.

3/4/05 Lubbock, TX Man Turns Himself to Police After Shooting Girlfriend

Just after 1 p.m., Erica Perez was parking her car after returning from her lunch break from the Cingular Call Center. That is when 22-year-old Raymon Montelongo Junior blocked her car with his black Monte Carlo and jumped in the car with her. After witnesses heard them arguing, they heard two gunshots. Montelongo the drove to the Lubbock police department where he turned himself in. The officers arrested him and confiscated the .380 handgun used in the murder. The two were not married but did live together.

3/2 Springfield, MO - Woman Attacked with Baseball Bat by Ex-Boyfriend

A women was beaten with a baseball bat by her ex-boyfriend who was lying in wait as she arrived at work. Michelle Bond was in the parking lot the Mihlfeld & Associates Global Transportation Systems office when she was assaulted about 7:15. a.m. She suffered injuries to her arms as she tried to defend her self and was also struck in the head before the bat broke. There was at least one other employee who witnessed the assault. The assailant then fled and evade capture. Bond was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.

Gun Rights Legislation in the Workplace in Montana House of Representatives

House Bill 693 would forbid businesses from prohibiting employees from keeping guns in vehicles parked in the company parking lot, among other gun rights. The bill sponsor Rep. Jack Wells, R-Bozeman states that it will allow people to use their guns in self-defense, which theoretically would deter criminals. Law-enforcement representatives raised issues in the House Judiciary Committee. One change was the elimination of language requiring employers who prohibit employees from carrying guns in their vehicles to provide additional security at the workplace. The law would also allow students to keep guns in their vehicles in school parking lots. It has yet to go to the Senate.

3/2 Lafayette, LA – Motel Clerk Killed by Ex-Boyfriend

Jennifer Herring, 31, was shot and killed just after 1 p.m. by her ex-boyfriend Francis Vallery Jr. Vallery had made numerous death threats to her during the day. Herring had contacted the police who responded to take a report and advised her to go to a shelter. She was in process of finding someone to take over her shift as a front desk receptionist when Vallery had came in to the Microtel Inn and shot her several times in the chest. He then fled and is sought by the police. Herring is the mother of 4 children.

2/21 Pascagoula, MS - Co-Worker Talks Shooter into Releasing Weapon

Alexander L. Lett, 41 wounded two supervisors at the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems shipyard around 6:20 a.m. There were about 30 other workers in the warehouse when Lett started firing a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol. One of the employees, Leo Coleman, was able to talk him into surrendering his weapon. He was later taken custody by Northrop security. Lett was apparently not satisfied with his work assignments where he was a quality assurance inspector for over 20 years. Co-workers stated that Lett had not received a vacation he planned and was possibly on the verge of being fired.