Quote:

Sun Aug 2, 1:24 pm ET
SEATTLE – A Seattle bank teller has lost his job because he ran down a would-be bank robber and held him until police arrived. Jim Nicholson, 30, who had worked for more than two years at a Key Bank branch near the Seattle Center, says he understands the bank's strict policy that employees comply with robbery demands and avoid confrontations.

But he told The Seattle Times that instinct took over when a thin man in a beanie cap, dark clothing and sunglasses pushed a black backpack across the bank counter on Tuesday and demanded money.

Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lunged toward the man and demanded to see a weapon. The man bolted for the door with Nicholson in pursuit.

He chased him several blocks before knocking him to the ground with the help of a passer-by. Nicholson then held the man until police arrived.

On Thursday, Nicholson was fired. Key Bank spokeswoman Anne Foster declined to comment on Nicholson and his actions.

Police and the FBI discourage such heroics. Bank tellers are trained to get robbers out the door quickly and are advised against possibly escalating a situation over money that's federally insured.

Nicholson said he understands why he was fired.

"They tell us that we're just supposed to comply, but my instincts kicked in and I did what's best to stop the guy," he said. "I thought if I let him go he would rob more banks and cause more problems."

Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said the best course for citizens is to be good witnesses to crimes.

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ferrel_human said:

"you wanna be a live coward or a dead hero?"

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Ima Trooper said:

ferrel_human said:

"you wanna be a live coward or a dead hero?"

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Shouldn't that be up for the individual to decide?

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Ima Trooper said:

ferrel_human said:

"you wanna be a live coward or a dead hero?"

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Shouldn't that be up for the individual to decide?

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Quote:

I don't get this country.

I think that the FBI and local authorities just want you to lay low so they can taser them to death.

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Ima Trooper said:

But the bank doesn't ask that question, it tells you. Thats why I said what I said...

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Quote:

This guy is a hero. We need more like him.

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Klondike said:

But if you let them get away with it there will only be more bank robberies in the future. That's the problem with this country. People get away with it or they get light penalties in a comfortable prison, getting three meals a day and cable TV which is more than a lot of people looking for work get. There aren't a lot of robberies in Texas because everyone's packing heat and the law favors vigilante justice (i.e. if you're on my property I can legally kill you). Studies show crime goes way down the more people are packing heat. IF this guy gets caught by the police he might face a couple of years behind bars, getting three meals a day. He might not get caught though. But if some crazy ass teller gets all over his ass and chases him down, you can bet he will think twice about robbing another bank in the future.

And don't give me that BS about the money being federally insured. That just means everyone's insurance rates go up. If the bank's insurance rates are high because of all the robberies, they pass the cost onto YOU the customer in the form of higher interest rates. Someone pays for this shit, one way or the other, and that person is YOU.

This guy is a hero. We need more like him.

QED.

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