Rite Aid worker dies from fall while chasing cigarette thief

[rsmith6621]

He lost his life over two cartons of cigarettes.

Broderick Koga, 52, an assistant store manager for a Rite Aid in Kent, chased through a parking lot after a shoplifting suspect Thursday but apparently fell over a retaining wall and was knocked unconscious, Kent police said.

Koga was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died Saturday, according to the King County Medical Examiner's Office. Medical examiners have not yet conducted an investigation to determine the cause of death.

"The entire Rite Aid family is deeply saddened by this," said Rite Aid spokeswoman Ashley Flower. "Our hearts are with the family."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015795159_fatalshoplift02m.html

[jpak]

1. Unfortunately, they probably would have fired him for chasing the thief

n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. And they might at least give some of the insurance money to the family

But I suspect it will wind up in the CEO's bonus at the end of the year.

[KittyWampus]

4. delete. Condolences to family

[OhioChick]

3. A family member used to work at Rite Aid and this was in their job description....

Quote: "Flower would not comment on Koga's decision to chase the shoplifter. She said all Rite Aid employees receive training on how to respond to shoplifting and other crimes."

Employees (at least a few years ago) were required as part of their job description, to do just as this person did.

[KittyWampus]

5. That is highly unusual for a large corporation. They almost always require the worker to inform

security and/or management and nothing else. And get fired if they go after a shoplifter or thief.

[OhioChick]

7. That's how Rite Aid operated....

They never had security and were "encouraged" to catch shoplifters, even if it meant leaving the store.

[Pithlet]

6. That's so sad.

And it's also why I support employers who have rules against this. Every time a store like Wal Mart or Best Buy makes the news for firing an employee who chases a shoplifter they seem to catch hell, but it's the right thing to do as far as I'm concerned.

[dtexdem]

8. It is not worth it to take such action to protect the interests of a retail employer.

This was (apparently) a freak accident, but there are still inherent risks to life and limb in any such chase scenario.

[CanonRay]

9. They probably had a "dead peasant" policy on him

so they'll make some profit.