PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Don Watson apprehended a shoplifter last month during his shift as overnight manager at a Walmart in Prattville. He thought he was just doing his job, but now he’s been terminated and is never allowed to work for Walmart or Sam’s Club again.
Watson heard an alarm from an emergency exit during his shift January 4th, and knowing they were short staffed on loss-prevention associates that evening, decided to check out the situation.
He saw Roderick Gray, who was known to be a shoplifter, outside with a buggy full of unpaid-for items.
“When I caught up to the individual he turned and grabbed me, struck me in the face and dragged me to the ground,” Watson said. “I got loose and was holding him down” when security personnel from an apartment complex across the street came to help until police arrived.”
Watson was fired 27 days later.
“I thought I was protecting the company,” Watson told AL.com.
Indeed, according to court records Gray had $1,118 worth of merchandise on him when we was apprehended. Gray was charged with first degree robbery.
Before Watson caught him, Gray had allegedly already been recorded stealing approximately $3,500 of merchandise over the previous nine days.
Walmart fired Watson for “gross misconduct,” for not following the company’s security procedures, and for not considering his own welfare.
“It is a tough situation anytime we have an associate that does something that unfortunately puts himself in danger,” Walmart spokesperson Aaron Mullins said. “We don’t think there is any amount of stolen merchandise that is worth anyone’s life. Associates are trained to follow certain security measures.”
Though Walmart does have a set of policies regarding how associates deal with shoplifting, Watson also says they are incentivized to keep shoplifting to a minimum—more shoplifting means less in bonuses.
Mr. Watson is attempting to appeal his firing to the company’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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