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Title: 'You're fired,' man hears after saving a woman's life
Source:
The Times-Union
URL Source: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-onli ... ies/061807/met_178250725.shtml
Published: Jun 19, 2007
Author: Jim Schoettler,
Post Date: 2007-06-19 20:16:30 by Horse
Keywords: None
Views: 105
Comments: 4
The 24-year-old grabbed a gun before going to help his neighbor who had been shot. When a neighbor screamed she'd been shot, Colin Bruley grabbed his shotgun, found the victim and began treating her bloodied right leg. Tonnetta Lee survived Tuesday's pre-dawn shooting at her Jacksonville apartment, and her sister and a neighbor praised Bruley's actions. But his employers, the same people who own the Arlington complex where Bruley lives, reacted differently. They fired him. Bruley, a leasing agent at the Oaks at Mill Creek, said he lost his job after being told that brandishing the weapon was a workplace violation, as was failing to notify supervisors after the incident occurred. He'd worked at the Monument Road complex since December and for the owner, Village Green Cos., since 2005. Bruley said he was too shaken to call his supervisor immediately after the incident, which occurred just before 2 a.m., but planned to eventually do so. He also said he was acting as a citizen, not an employee, and shouldn't have been punished for trying to protect himself and others. He never fired the shotgun. "I was expecting work to give me some kind of commendation," said Bruley, 24. "I was totally blown back. It was a crisis that most people don't go through." Andrea Roebker, the company's director of public relations, said "We're not in a position to discuss any employment issues outside of [with] the employee. She declined to comment further, citing confidentiality rules. A complaint Bruley said was given to him by his supervisor Tuesday said he violated several company policies found in an employee handbook. Those procedures were also explained in a recent meeting and an e-mail, the complaint said. One policy prohibits any type of weapons being used in the workplace. The complaint cited him for "gross misconduct." "Colin demonstrated extremely poor judgment in responding to this situation," the complaint said. "Colin's failure to immediately report this incident ... could have serious ramifications to the property, its associates and residents." A police report said the shooting followed a domestic quarrel involving Lee, 24, and her boyfriend. Bruley said he was dozing off in his apartment when he heard Lee's screams. He said he then grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun he uses for protection and hunting. Bruley said he found the woman bleeding heavily. He handed the shotgun to a neighbor, tied a tourniquet around her right leg and waited for police and rescue to arrive. "I was kind of in a state of shock. I had blood all over my body," Bruley said. After emergency officials took Lee to the hospital, Bruley returned to his apartment and tried to settle down, eventually falling asleep. He said he could have called his supervisor but didn't think she could do anything at the time. He said he was called into the office about 9:30 a.m., gave his account and then left. He said he was called back that afternoon and told he was fired. Neighbor Kevin Courson joined Bruley at the crime scene when he saw Bruley had a gun for protection. Courson said he is incensed by the dismissal. "Here was a guy trying to do a good deed. He wasn't trying to hurt nobody," said Courson, 31. Erica Jenkins, Lee's sister, said Bruley should still have a job. Lee couldn't be reached to comment despite several messages left with her sister and mother. "If it wasn't for him ... she could have lost her leg or died," said Jenkins, 19. "He put his life in jeopardy for someone else." Bruley said he is considering contacting a lawyer about his dismissal, but will first look for another job and possibly another home. He promises he won't shy away from aiding others in need. "If I'd lose my job again for helping some girl's life ... I'd do it over and over," Bruley said. jim.schoettler@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4385
Poster Comment: "Just wait a couple of years." That is what I tell rich white people who support both Amnesty for illegal aliens and gun control. I will be leaving the state of California before the dollar collapses. When the average average welfare check is cut 60% and the man who used to take home $10.00 an hour is lucky to make $5.00, I will be long gone so I will not be there to witness what happens when you stop at a red light in your fancy car. Some of these wealthy liberals can be downright obnoxious when it comes looking down at people who oppose gun control and Amnesty.
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#1. To: Horse (#0)
My old apt complex, regardless of presence of CHP or not, had a lease clause prohibiting ANY weapons in apartments. [I disobeyed...LMAO] Disobedience is required for all of us in more than one way regarding all of the Freedoms we have lost under our new Dictator, Chimp. I allowed my CHP to expire over a year ago out of PRINICPLE and now carry anyway. F*** 'em.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Sounds like the apartment complex is afraid of having their insurance rates go up.
Maybeso, but once a hotshot attorney gets ahold of that young man, I think they have a different problem, and a much larger one. Hard to beat up on a local hero, and anyway you cut it, that is what this is going to be about. If the lawyer is any good, that is, and esp. if the attorney likes seeing his own face on the Tele. (And what attorney does not?)
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Bruley said he was too shaken to call his supervisor immediately after the incident, which occurred just before 2 a.m., but planned to eventually do so. He also said he was acting as a citizen, not an employee, and shouldn't have been punished for trying to protect himself and others. He never fired the shotgun. That's insane.
#2. To: Horse (#0)
#3. To: Pinguinite (#2)
Sounds like the apartment complex is afraid of having their insurance rates go up.
#4. To: Horse (#0)
Bruley, a leasing agent at the Oaks at Mill Creek, said he lost his job after being told that brandishing the weapon was a workplace violation, as was failing to notify supervisors after the incident occurred. He'd worked at the Monument Road complex since December and for the owner, Village Green Cos., since 2005.
Ron Paul for President
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