Comments on: Case Studies In Risk Management, Vol. I.

By: Adam Simpson

Adam Simpson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:26:45 +0000

Wow, what an easy way to get someone killed. If one of the pharmacy employees had been carrying a conceal weapon and shot the gunman/actor, then what ? In a lot of places that is exactly what would have happened. This was dumber than dumb !

By: Al

Al — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:03:14 +0000

Shoot the hostage!

By: Professor Coldheart

Professor Coldheart — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:14:12 +0000

@Brian: And I can’t, just can’t picture how this could be green-lighted. I can picture it easily. There's some odd synergy when 3 to 5 middle-management types sit at a conference table that allows them to agree to the most reprehensible things. You could probably get sign-off on Manzanar tomorrow if you made a splashy PowerPoint with the wrong kind of buzzwords ("synergizing our intelligence efficiencies").

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:55:55 +0000

What exactly are they preparing them to do with the drills? Man up and go Die-Hard? Better solution!

Dear Valued Employees,

In response to your concerns, we have developed the following procedure: in the event that a crazed, gun-toting junkie takes one of your colleagues hostage and threatens to off him/her, please take the following action(s):

1. Give him/her the goddamn pills. (Note: Generic!)
2. Call police when he/she is out of sight.

Thank you,
Management

By: Brian Dunbar

Brian Dunbar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:57:50 +0000

I am trying to picture the meeting where this was green-lighted.

And I can't, just can't picture how this could be green-lighted.

Unless your business is one where dealing with the threat of kidnapping and execution of hostages is a common occurrence, such as Navy SEALS, the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, or SWAT squads, it’s probably best to leave such especially vivid touches out of one’s emergency preparation simulations.

I did not guard nuclear weapons, but I did serve as a Marine Security Guard at a sensitive installation.

And nothing like this would ever happen. Because at some point 'the man' would realize they are dealing with guys carrying guns and whose natural instinct would be to use those guns and use them well.

By: Ray Hoffman

Ray Hoffman — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:58:01 +0000

No criminal charges? Where's the f—–g prosecutor? A drug robbery with guns and hostage taking and cutting off the phone lines is still a crime, even in New Jersey, isn't it? It did, after all, create at least one victim who was justifiably terrorized.