Case Study 1 - “A Threat”

The Incident
A top executive of a major company telephoned the Director of Security and
explained that he had just received a threatening message. The message was
constructed from words and letters cutout of a magazine and glued to a piece
of paper. The message indicated that the executive would be killed. Later, the
same executive received a dead cockroach taped to an index card with a
straight pin through the body. The message written on the card was, “ . . . This
could be you . . . ”.

Incidence Response
The Company’s president, Director of Security, and Corporate Counsel
immediately conferred and reviewed the facts regarding the situation and
developed a course of action. They concluded that other law enforcement
agencies should be brought into the case. They also decided that special
physical security measures must be taken immediately to protect the
executive.

Investigation
The Company had a total population of over 21,000 people, which included
employees, visitors, and guests. The executive could not narrow the list of
suspects. Over the next several months, the executive received numerous
unsolicited items in the mail at his office and home. The U.S.Postal Inspector
was contacted to assist in the case. The original requests for the unsolicited
items were retrieved and handwriting samples obtained. The investigator
compared the sample with thousands of notes and documents written by
employees.Approximately a year later, several employees expressed concern
over receiving harassing unsolicited items in the mail. The original requests
were obtained and it was concluded that they were made by the same
individual. The employees were asked to list the individuals that they believed
to be the most likely suspect. One name appeared on all the lists. The
investigator obtained previously prepared handwritten documents and the
handwriting appeared to be that of the same person. The information was
turned over to a special investigative team with another law enforcement
agency who brought the individual in for questioning.The individual denied
writing the threatening notes or being responsible for the harassing mail.
Finally, the individual relented and provided the handwriting samples, then
returned to his desk at his office where he then committed suicide. The
suicide note explained why the harassing mail and threatening note were
sent. The individual also explained in the suicide note that he had never met
the executive or even knew what he looked like.

Conclusion:
Although it cannot be determined if anything could have changed the
outcome of this tragic event, there are many lessons that can be learned that
may avert future incidents.
Lessons Learnt :
1. The Company was faced with heavy competition and was downsizing. Employees
were being asked to do more with less.Some incidents of workplace violence involve
companies that are downsizing or that have recently done so.
2. The employee was dedicated and hard working,and proud of his work. Employees
who commit workplace violence are not always underachievers.
3. Many times top executives become the target of a disgruntled employee because
they are seen as the company or corporate image.
4. It is important to actively pursue cases of workplace violence.
5. Once the person is identified, immediate action should be taken to assess his or
her actions.
6. If an incident does occur, it is important to consider all victims and their families.
Use the services of a priest or clergy. Decide how you are going to inform coworker.
1. Do we agree with the approach the employer took in the
casestudy?
2. If not, why wouldn’t that approach work for us?
3.What other approaches would work for us? 4.Do we have
adequate resources to handle such a situation?