TAGLine: Articles of Interest

TAG Announces Its 16th Annual Course

MANAGING UNWANTED WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR:
LESSONS FROM 20 YEARS OF FIELD EXPERIENCE AND THE LATEST RESEARCH

Pittsburgh, PA – October 27-29, 2008

As TAG enters its 21st year, we’ve updated and redesigned our course for professionals who manage unwanted behavior in the workplace. Drawing on our emphasis on early intervention, we’ve re-conceptualized the evolution of unwanted behavior as a spectrum from the earliest signs (incivility, absenteeism, poor productivity) to the end stages (litigation, threats, violence). This year we’ve added segments on new research on workplace violence, threats, domestic violence, and stalking and on the management of shootings in progress. The course combines foundational lectures with small group discussions of TAG Case Studies. This course is suitable for executives and managers from human resources, employee relations, security, loss prevention, law, employee assistance, medicine, occupational nursing, and benefits. Both new and seasoned professionals will benefit from this course and from their interaction with peers from other companies. Many of TAG’s client companies send new members of their workplace violence prevention teams to this course in years when they are not having TAG deliver training on site.

(See Brochure)

TAG Series: Cases from the News

City Council
Kirkwood, Missouri
February 7, 2008

Subject: Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton
Age: 52
Criminal History: Extensive history of misdemeanors
Dead: 6 (including Thornton)
Wounded: 2

On the evening of February 7, 2008, Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton shot and killed a police officer outside City Hall, took his gun, and stormed into City Council chambers. Once in the chambers, he opened fire with both guns, killing four more and wounding two. Thornton was shot dead by a police officer outside the court house.

Those killed in council chambers were the Director of Public Works, two City Council members, and a police officer. The mayor and a newspaper reporter were wounded.

Thornton had earlier been convicted of assault and battery on the Director of Public Works.

Thornton, the owner of a construction business, had a long-running feud with the city over the period of several years. He had been cited more than 150 times for violations of city ordinances and unlawful operation of his business. In 2005, a State Court of Appeals dismissed his claims of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations by the city. Thornton was seeking $12 million from the city.

He was arrested at least twice for disrupting city council proceedings. Those arrests led to Thornton suing the city for violating his First Amendment rights. A federal judge dismissed his suit a week before the shootings.

Thornton left what was described as a suicide note on his bed before going to City Hall. The contents of the note have not been released, but his brother reported it contained the claim that “the truth will come out in the end.”

His brother also said that Thornton believed his grievances were not being resolved and he had to “take the war into his own hands.”

DISCUSSION: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING? WERE THERE WARNING SIGNS?

Based solely on publicly available and unverified information as reported by CBS, AP, and The Kansas City Star. ——–.

Copyright TAG 2008. All rights reserved. Licensed for recipient’s internal use only from Threat Assessment Group, Inc., Newport Beach, CA. For permission for reuse, contact TAG at www.taginc.com.

TAG Case Example:

From TAG CASE STUDIES training program: Case #5 of 25, TAG was called in to consult on a case that included, on the job injury, threats, and medication misuse.

PART 2

Roy’s chronic pain, irritability, suspected abuse of prescription medications, threatening words, and angry outbursts make him a danger in the workplace.

A. Terminate Roy for making a threat and having a weapon on company property.

The sources of information regarding the threat and the weapon are sole sources of information that would be readily identified by Roy. Terminating Roy at this time would almost guarantee that Roy would become extremely angry and expose the two sources and others in the workplace to danger.

B. Refer Roy to EAP for counseling for his drug problem.

Roy needs more intensive treatment than can be provided by the EAP, but the EAP should be able to recommend appropriate treating professionals.

C. Facilitate Roy’s treatment and place him on final warning.

Based on available information, it is doubtful Roy will initiate or carry through with the type of treatment he needs unless given external incentives to do so. Any attempt to help him must be accompanied by a clear statement of what is expected of him.

D. Have Stuart try to convince Roy to seek help.

Stuart, a long-term and trusted employee, can be of assistance. He seems to know Roy better than others and is trusted by Roy. He may be able to convince Roy to seek treatment. He may also be a calming influence at the time a plan is presented to Roy.

E. Advise Roy’s doctor that he is abusing prescription
medications.

It is unknown what kind of relationship Roy has with his doctor, and there would be no control over how the doctor would report such contact to Roy. The doctor would not necessarily have the best interests of the employer in mind. If, as Stuart believes, Roy would not accept the doctors counsel, he would still have to be dealt with when he returns to work.

A physician was consulted who recommended that, under state law, two people could attest to Roy’s behavior to have him involuntarily committed as a danger to himself and/or others. Sheriff’s deputies would then transport him to a hospital where the doctor would treat him. During a conference call, which included a TAG expert, the doctor opined that Roy will be very angry, will not agree to treatment, and should be immediately terminated and escorted off company property.

A psychologist specializing in substance abuse interventions was consulted. The psychologist and Stuart met with Roy. Roy did not become angry and was cooperative. He voluntarily accompanied the psychologist to a medical facility for a complete physical and medical assessment. He was found to be abusing prescribed medications and to have psychotic tendencies. He underwent two weeks of eight-hour-a-day treatment and was to continue weekly treatment for a year.

Eight months later, Roy is back to work, doing well, and continuing his treatment.

See Next Issue for a new case – Visit TAGINC.COM for more information on our Case Studies program