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.

Everett: Man held on $2 million bail in connection with death of former roomate

An Everett man is held for investigation of murder in death of former roommate

Arturo Galindo Garcia, 29, was arrested Thursday shortly after police found the body of Euginio Renteria, 27, outside Cascadia Pointe Apartments in the 8100 block of Fifth Avenue W. Galindo Garcia told witnesses that he was fed up with the victim teasing him, according to court document, and he also complained about the teasing to a supervisor.
The two men worked together at National Foods in Everett and they also used to live together at the apartment complex. Renteria and another man walked out of the apartment, and Galindo Garcia followed, according to an affidavit filed in court. A witness told police that Galindo Garcia pulled a semiautomatic handgun from his pants pocket and shot Renteria once, according to court documents.

July 1 Waterfall, CT Karate Instructor Stabbed to Death by Boyfriend

Thomas C. Wood is charged with the murder of Sierra Giorgi whom he had met at Gabriele's Karate Kickbox Studio where she worked as a karate instructor. After dating for a short while, Giorgi wanted to end the relationship as she was afraid and suspicious of Wood. She even told her friends about her concerns about Wood in case something happened to her. After going out to dinner with a co-worker after work, she was later found stabbed to death in her car which was parked right outside the studio. Wood has been convicted before on stabbing a 67 year old man in 1990.

CLARIFICATION: 9/13/05
The perpetrator was not an employee of the studio and I am uncertain if he was a student. The unnamed co-worker with whom she had dinner with earlier in the night was not involved with this tragedy. While blog is about workplace violence, the definition includes violence from clients, intimate partners and even strangers. Workplace violence is violence that occurs in the workplace or vicinity.
I cannot express the sorrow and senselessness of this terrible loss. I only hope that by increasing awareness, future crimes can be prevented.

July 19th Baltimore, MD Worker Returns 2 Months after Fired at Manufacturing Plant

Levi A. White arrived at the H.R. Nicholson Co. plant at approximately 7:40 PM two months after was fired for allegedly sabotaging a $400,000 piece of equipment. He entered with a shotgun and asked for his former supervisor, Dennis Wilson. He shot Wilson at close range and then went outside, sitting in her car and waiting for arriving officers. After being ordered to drop his weapon, he pointed the shotgun at officers who shot him multiple times. White later died at the hospital. Records show that he was recently charged with smashing Wilson’s windshield with a brick and is suspected with spray painting the same car several weeks ago. In April, Wilson had caught White with wire cutters after a $400,000 piece of equipment was sabotaged, resulting in White’s dismissal.

Lockheed Lawsuit Denied- Appeals Court Rules it is a Workers Comp Case

A federal appeals court has denied the plaintiffs in a workplace violence lawsuit the right to sue the company where the tragedy occurred. On July 8th, 2003, Doug Williams killed six co-workers and injured nine others before committing suicide at the Lockheed Martin plant in Meridian, Mississippi.
One of the victim’s family members claimed that Williams was "known to harbor extreme racial hatred toward his African-American co-workers." Four of those murdered were African-American and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated the shooting and said Williams created a "racially charged atmosphere" at the plant. The plaintiff’s, the surviving shooting victims and their families, claim that management knew Williams was a threat but did little to prevent the violence.
However, the higher court ruled that the exclusivity bar of workers' compensation law prohibits a lawsuit. Workers Compensation is generally ruled as the sole remedy for any injuries that employees experience “in the course of employment" and “that arise out of employment”. It limits damage to $150,000 per victim. The lawsuit sought unspecified damages. It is unknown if the plaintiff's will appeal to a higher court.

Husband accused of offering $20,000 for wife's rape and murder

July 14, 2005

A Massachusetts man tried to hire a hit man to rape and murder his wife in an effort to ensure he’d win a custody dispute. Ira Bloom, 46, or Springfield, Mass., wanted his wife abducted on her way to work and raped “over a period of days,” according to an affidavit. The affidavit describes a meticulously planned plot in which Bloom allegedly outlined when his wife arrives at work, where she parks and which days she does not have custody of their child. He allegedly insisted she be killed before August 12- the next court date in their custody dispute. Bloom allegedly provided his wife’s work address and a description of her car. Investigators said he promised to pay within 90 days, once he collected on his wife’s insurance policy. It is not the first time Bloom threatened to kill his wife, investigators said. He was under a restraining order until July 5 for “allegations of death threat.”

This article originally appeared at:
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--murderforhire0714jul13,0,3604658.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

July 14 Elmwood, LA Man kills wife, self, and 1 other

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Barbara Cavalier’s husband Chris Cavalier had been abusive towards her throughout their seven year marriage. Barbara decided to leave the relationship in January when Chris put a gun to her head. For six months Chris had no idea where she was living, and presumably had no face-to-face contact with her until he walked into the Elmwood siding supply business where Barbara was a data entry clerk, armed with 2 guns: a .45 caliber automatic pistol and a .357-caliber Magnum revolver. Authorities say Chris shot and killed his wife and another employee then took his own life. The other employee Chris murdered first was office manager Stephanie Revolta, 42, a friend of Barbara’s who stayed in the building to try and defuse the situation. Revolta made the first 911 call to authorities around 3:30 pm, but by the time a hostage negotiator arrived and members of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team rushed the building, all three were dead.
Coworkers said Chris Cavalier had been harassing his wife all day, repeatedly calling and even stealing her truck. Barbara was reported to be afraid to go home Wednesday evening, fearing her estranged husband might find out where she was now living. After the couple’s split 6 months ago, Chris began to harass his wife at work, constantly calling her during the day. Doris Deckwa said she suspects he shot Revolta because she had hung up on him when he called Wednesday. When authorities searched Chris’s house they found a note assigning power of attorney and listing some valuables that Chris wanted to give away. This note lead authorities to believe that Chris knew the day would end in bloodshed when he left his house Wednesday.

Alabama: Bomb Threat to Day Care Center

Opelika, Ala. June 17, 2005

An Opelika, Alabama, woman was charged with calling in a bomb threat to the day care center where she worked. Jessica Kay Thornton, 20, apparently used her cell phone while at work to call in the bomb threat to Miss Deanna’s Daycare. Thornton is reportedly to have said, “There’s a bomb in your building” before hanging up the phone. All children and employees were evacuated from the day care center while firefighters searched the building. Thornton’s motive for calling in the threat is unclear.