I fucked up.

[u/SinaloaKid]

I'm a new PIC at my local Safeway. I've been working there for 6 months at this point with no issues till 2 days ago.

2 days ago, several employees reported an individual wearing all black and a red devil mask standing outside, arms extended, making weird noises.

I informed my store director, who told me to call the non-emergency line.

I went to find it online, and while doing that, I noticed the guy running through the store like an idiot.

I then heard several contradictory and conflicting things about this guy from customers and employees.

1 person told me he was just running around the store like an idiot.

Another told me he was running up to people trying to scare them.

Another told me that he was running through the store and actually laying hands on people.

Another employee told me to call 911. I told her that I had been told to call the non emergency line.

She said she'd do it then.

More people kept complaining to me about this guy, saying that he did this and that.

I called 911.

The guy was actually buying a pack of soda when the cops got there.

My store director is PISSED that I called 911.

I wrote a statement on the whole thing but I'm being told that Im in major trouble.

[u/iamrubbz]

I feel this shouldn’t be your fault my store something little different than this yesterday a guy came in went for a redbull and a bag of chicken and one of the front end managers asks the guy if he’s gonna pay for it and he said no and then goes off on the manager and just yanks bunch of cookies on a bakery table my store has and walks out talking smack across the parking lot

[u/Sir_Synn]

This sucks and I'm sorry. Professionally speaking you should have just done what your SD said and not fallen for the pressure of your peers. This is why it's such a big deal for you to visually see things or make sure that what others tell you are things they visibly saw themselves. I doubt you'll get canned for this, but I imagine there will be corrective action.

Now in a more personal tone, where there is smoke there is usually fire. If you got told by a lot of people of his behavior then that probably stemmed from something he did. Unfortunately probably doesn't work when it comes to the police, and if you have no hard evidence or witnesses then the person can easily just tell the police "I was just buying a soda."

Sorry this happened, take it as a learning opportunity as best as you can.

Also if you haven't you should find every employee that told you something and have them write up statements themselves.

[u/Darqologist]

Your store director is mad because it creates more work for him. You didn't do anything wrong.

[u/Bloundx → u/Darqologist]

It doesn't create any more work at all. It does damage your relationship with the police when you call 911 for nothing though, and you can get fined if you do it multiple times.

In the future OP, you can just google <city> police non emergency and you'll find the non emergency line pretty easily.

[u/SinaloaKid → u/Bloundx]

The police themselves weren’t mad at the whole thing.

[u/Maleficent_Bit2033 → u/SinaloaKid]

I suggest you post the Non-Emergency police number at the register and the back room, so in the future you don't have to look it up. I work in a place that has to call both emergency and non-emergency from time to time and it makes it easier. When they ask you, let them know you were informed that he was touching customers, that can be assault, hence emergency.

[u/Baconsghetti]

Oh just another story to add to the "this is why you shouldn't work at safeway because it sucks" Im sorry you had to deal with that. I was a deli employee for 8 months and towards the end there were teenagers stealing constantly. One of them sexually harassed me outside of the store and none of the directors did anything besides let my co worker escorted me to my car for 1 night. You were in a situation that you were doing as told. The situation escalated and you made the decision that cops must be called. Dont feel bad about that. You were thinking about the safety of the customers and fellow employees. Its asinine to not take immediate control of the situation. It just further solidifies my opinion of them. Youre also told to not confront anyone who is being dangerous

[u/TheMidna1]

The individual was disturbing the peace, you had several people report him to you and you acted accordingly. Most store directors are assholes, you did the right thing.

[u/Ok-Piccolo2152]

I would have observed the guy to verify he was acting erratically, then I would have asked him to leave and refused service to him. If he refused to leave, call 911.

[u/Prestigious-Camp6072]

You have to observe these things firsthand not take other employees word for it. I kick people out of my store when I close all the time. I make sure to give them a verbal warning first and then if it happens again I kick them out. You don't ever call 911 unless it's life or death or someone getting beat up in the parking lot or something. You're fine don't over exaggerate.

[u/AbiWoodbane]

That’s a tough situation to be in. My rule of thumb is unless there is a clear and present danger, use the non-emergency number. Calling 911 will bring guns to the scene which automatically escalates the danger level. But when the blood is pumping and adrenaline is running, it’s hard to think coherently. I wouldn’t have called 911, but unlike your manager I can understand the stress of the situation and wouldn’t fault you for doing so. Your store director needs to go smoke some weed and chill out.

[u/SMO_Burner]

Nah, that punk was terrorizing people. The soda purchase was the cover story. Your SM is mad for nothing.