emzhengjiu Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I work in a recreation center serving a diverse community. Today we had a fight break out between two adult male basketball players. Not unusual, unfortunately. The other players separated the two guys, One man is a regular and very nice. The other is new. Both men leave, but a different times. Soon after, the new guy returns to our parking lot with a gun threatening to kill the first guy. As soon as I was told, I called 911. The police responded quickly, but the guy got away. Since we are an ID facility, we knew who the guy was. He's been arrested thankfully. No one was hurt. It was scary. I insisted we lock our main doors; my co-worker disagreed. Our facility has a huge number of large glass windows. In my opinion, it was better to lock the main doors even though he could shoot through the glass than let him enter the facility where he could follow people shooting. There were people outside, but we could have let them in as necessary. Plus, we are set in a large park; there were many ways to run away or hide. We have two exits that are locked from the outside only. People inside could still get out through them if needed.. Anyway, I locked the main doors. My boss told me later that he probably would have made the same decision. I'm second guessing myself now. I have a headache and I'm hungry for comfort food that I don't have to cook. My daughters are attending a church function today so I'm home alone. I would appreciate kind words, and tell me was I right in locking the doors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 :grouphug: Wow. That must have been terrifying!!! I'm impressed by your quick, rational thinking. You made the right choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Wow! It sounds to me like you kept your head in a crisis and now you're experiencing an adrenaline hangover. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 of course you are right to lock the doors when someone shows up with a gun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 (hugs) What a day! I'd have locked the doors too. Good job keeping your head! I'd also be comforting myself with a lot of chocolate and probably a good cry to let out some of the terror. Glad everyone is okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 You were absolutely right to lock the doors. I have been in a similar situation, and that is protocol where I work. Good job keeping your head and your wits about you. And thank you for working there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 How frightening! I'm glad no one was hurt. Sounds to me like you made the right choice. :grouphug: You said the fighting was not unusual. Does this facility have any documented safety procedures or guidelines addressing "what to do in XYZ situation"? If not, perhaps this would be a good time to suggest that to your boss or whoever heads up the facility. That way, you and others don't have to second-guess yourselves the next time something like this happens. The matter of whether or not to lock the doors, and other safety precautions, can be clearly spelled out so that everyone knows exactly what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I think you made the right decision. For what it's worth, it is much harder to hit anybody shooting through glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Thank you so much! I'm shaking now, but felt calmer then. Strange how our bodies react. My 21 yo co-worker told me I panicked, but I didn't. I was scared though. He didn't do anything, including informing our supervisor. I had to make the call, write the report, ask for names of witnesses (for the center, not for the police.) I've got some wonderful dark chocolate that I'm going to relish as soon as my tea has brewed. I didn't know that it's harder to hit someone through a window. That's good to know, although I hope that I don't ever had to find out. The center may have protocols in place. For fights, we call the police if necessary. Most of the fights are handled by the other players. I told my boss I will not attempt to break up a fight. I don't get paid that much. As for a situation such as this, I don't know if we have anything in place. At a different center in our area, a man threatened suicide in the parking lot. The police put the center in lock-down. I guess this was similar only the man escaped from our parking lot just as the police arrived. I'm just so thankful he was arrested and no one was hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I definitely think you did the right thing. :grouphug: Thank you so much! I'm shaking now, but felt calmer then. Strange how our bodies react. My 21 yo co-worker told me I panicked, but I didn't. I was scared though. He didn't do anything, including informing our supervisor. I had to make the call, write the report, ask for names of witnesses (for the center, not for the police.) I've got some wonderful dark chocolate that I'm going to relish as soon as my tea has brewed. I didn't know that it's harder to hit someone through a window. That's good to know, although I hope that I don't ever had to find out. The center may have protocols in place. For fights, we call the police if necessary. Most of the fights are handled by the other players. I told my boss I will not attempt to break up a fight. I don't get paid that much. As for a situation such as this, I don't know if we have anything in place. At a different center in our area, a man threatened suicide in the parking lot. The police put the center in lock-down. I guess this was similar only the man escaped from our parking lot just as the police arrived. I'm just so thankful he was arrested and no one was hurt. That sounds appropriate and even healthy! I'm afraid I would be in a fast food drive thru. :auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: how awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynnae Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 How scary! You did the right thing. I figure if the protocol for schools is to lock everything down when someone has a gun, it must be the safest choice. I would have done the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 I definitely think you did the right thing. :grouphug: That sounds appropriate and even healthy! I'm afraid I would be in a fast food drive thru. :auto: You have no idea how much I wanted to head for a drive thru and french fries! The saving grace was I did't want drive anywhere. The chocolate and tea were here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 How scary! You did the right thing. I figure if the protocol for schools is to lock everything down when someone has a gun, it must be the safest choice. I would have done the same thing. This is what I thought as well. I've never been in this type of situation before. It's hard to make fast decisions. Thankfully, all ended well this time. As much as I like my job, it doesn't feel safe now. No where is really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBasil Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnTeaching Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I guess I do not see where doing anything OTHER than locking the doors would have been any better. What you did is exactly what our public schools do whenever there is a threat anywhere in the vicinity of the school. Why should your facility handle a threat any differently? I believe a lock-down was the correct thing to do. Schools have glass windows, too. Unfortunately, they will not stop someone if they want to get in badly enough (i.e. Sandy Hook). If you are still questioning protocol, why don't you call the officer that responded to your call. Did you get his name or card? I bet they could give you an idea of what they would suggest if something like this was to ever happen again. Also, I really think you should have more faith in the action you decided to take in a crisis rather than listen to your 21-year-old co-worker's opinions of what he believes should have been done. If I were in that facility, I would have preferred that the doors have been locked if a man on an anger binge was in the parking lot. I think you did EXACTLY what should have been done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 You did the right thing. What a terrifying situation, and good for you for keeping your wits about you and doing what you could to protect the other people at the rec center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaOfalotta Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 :grouphug: I would have done the same thing. How scary :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Coming back to say that you did exactly the right thing. It sounds like you kept your head which is a very good thing under the circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 Thank you all! I really do believe I made the right decision. When I called the center supervisor, he kept asking me how long the doors were locked. He talked about the fire code. He was very concerned about the doors. At the end, he said he probably would have made the same decision. I guess his quizzing me has me second guessing myself. I can't see doing anything else under the circumstances. Strange that such a small thing would become center stage, not a potential shooter. I feel no one else there considers a man threatening to kill another man in our parking lot a serious matter. Thank you for letting me talk about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2OandE Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I'm so sorry you had to go through that. (((HUG))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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