Pharmacies have become a major target for robberies over the last few years. As the market for prescription drugs has increased, so have the attempts to get a hold of them. Pharmacies have become what the liquor store robbery used to be.
One case in particular is that of Jeremy Hoven, a 36-year-old pharmacist from Kent County, Mich. Earlier this year, over Mother’s Day weekend, Hoven was the victim of an attempted robbery. At 4 a.m., two armed gunmen entered the Walgreens where he worked. During the heist the robbers attempted to steal cash and other items, including prescription drugs. One of the robbers jumped the pharmacy counter, pointed his gun and, according to Hoven, attempted to fire. Hoven then took the law into his own hands.
He immediately pointed his personal firearm at the robber and fired it. The thief urgently fled the store as a result. Naturally, you might say that Hoven should be commended for standing up to these thieves. Walgreens didn’t seem to think so though. They fired Hoven after the incident. Walgreens dismissed Hoven, citing that they have a “no escalation” policy. They also publically stated that he did not have a “right to carry or discharge a concealed weapon on its premises at any time.” Perhaps Walgreens would have preferred a shot or wounded pharmacist and an empty pharmacy instead.
To put things into context, that wasn’t the first attempted robbery at that particular Walgreens location. After a 2007 armed robbery, Hoven attempted to get Walgreens officials to install a panic button and other preventative security measures. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to find that Walgreens neglected to do this. As a result, Hoven created his own security measures by applying and receiving a concealed weapons permit.
Hoven is now suing Walgreens for wrongful termination.
To fire a man for protecting both his life and the store’s products is downright inexcusable. Walgreens is trying to make an awfully stubborn statement that does nothing more than make the company look utterly ungrateful for their brave and courageous ex-employee. What happened to his second amendment right to bear arms?
Hoven deserves to win his court case against Walgreens. He stood up and exercised his legal right to self-defense. It won’t be a surprise to see Walgreens settle this case out of court. What jury wouldn’t side with Hoven over this? It will be interesting to see how Walgreens handles the suit and if they remove this “no escalation” policy.
— Joshua Segall is a management information systems senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
