[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

I often wonder did we behave like this 40-50 years ago? Maybe we did? There's just weren't that many cameras around to get it out in out in the open? Also, is this an American or dare I say North American thing? People act like that in other parts of the world? I wanted to reach through my screen and slap that dumb girl. This type of stuff has to wear on those cops. They were truly professionals.

Right. I suspect there were folks that were idiots back then, but it's hard not to think that this sort of behavior has become more common.

I couldn't do the job of a LEO, because I could not handle this sort of thing day in and day out. You wanted to reach through the screen and slap her, and that would be most folks reaction. The cops did an amazing job of maintaining their cool despite the circumstances. I think they should be praised for how they handled this situation. I have no doubt that at least part of the motivation behind this behavior was to rile them up so they would react and act like she was acting and she didn't take the bait.

Originally Posted by Baz

Cops should have just told the manager on the phone it's her job to tell her employees what to do - stay or go.

Additionally - that manager on the phone did a piss poor job communicating with her associates.

I have other thoughts but those are the 2 main ones.....

The problem is that if a manager tells you to leave, and you refuse, you (as a manager) can't physically remove them without potentially being charged. So when someone refused to leave, I think the right choice to protect yourself (the business) and the other person is to call the police and have them officially remove the person (potentially hitting them with a "no trespass" which means if they come back they can be arrested).

I agree, the manager could/should have handled things differently, "the other guy is in charge, do what he says, and now I'm telling you, 'go home' and we'll talk on Monday." My guess is that the girl would still have argued and wouldn't have left.