Security Guards Do Nothing As Girl Is Beaten
On January 28th a 15-year-old girl was brutally beaten in a Seattle public bus terminal. As can be seen on the security tape that captured the entire incident, the three security guards present—clearly visible in their neon yellow vests—did not intervene as the victim was jumped from behind by another girl, punched, and then repeatedly kicked in the head after falling to the ground. ABC News reports the girl was worried that
“ ‘these kids were trying to jump her,’ ” so she went right to the security guards to tell them her concern, and then stood behind the guards as the attacker approached. The victim told investigators, “ ‘I thought the security guards would defend me.’ ” Though the incident happened right in front of the guards—in fact, “one security guard can be seen standing directly over the victim as she is stomped and then kicked in the head by a teenage girl”—they did nothing to physically stop the attacker who “walked casually away” afterwards, only to come back for one last kick. The guards work for Olympic Security Services Inc., a firm contracted by King County to help the Metro police. According to the agreement, CNN.com quotes, “ ‘unarmed security guards are instructed not to intervene when witnessing suspicious behavior or criminal activity, but to ‘observe and report’ and radio the Metro Transit Control Center, which relays requests for assistance to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.’ ” Though King County Executive Dow Constantine released a statement saying, “ ‘Public safety is our top priority. I am appalled by the sight of uniformed guards standing by while a person was kicked and beaten,’ ” NY Daily News writes that “King County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said the guards were right to follow their training.” The protocol is currently being reviewed.
- Why do you think the guards chose not to intervene? According to The New York Times, the guards’ training manual states that guards should “ ‘never become involved in enforcement actions.’ ” Deputy general manager for King County Metro Transit Jim Jacobson responded by saying “ ‘I think what you saw in that video was them following their training to the letter of the training.’ ” When should you obey rules and regulations? Are there times where it’s appropriate to disobey rules and regulations? Do you think the guards did the right thing in following their training manual? Do you think they had a choice?
- Under what conditions are most people likely to feel more responsible for helping others? What factors reduce feelings of personal responsibility?
- What would it have taken to stop this attack? What kind of intervention might have made a difference?
- Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond is quoted by NY Daily News as saying “ ‘we are very disappointed in what people see in that video. . . . It was absolutely unacceptable.’ ” CNN.com quotes Desmond as he reflects on the security guards’ duties: “Intervention by civilian security guards when a violent crime is being committed can have serious consequences for bystanders and the guards themselves.’ ” What might the consequences have been for the guards if they had chosen to intervene?
- What is a bystander? Identify a situation when you acted as a bystander. What factors influenced your decision to “stand by”? What responsibility or guilt do bystanders bear when they witness horrible crimes but fail to intervene?
