November 22, 2009
What's Inside:
It was only a test
A training exercise at Sonic, located at 3110 N. Belt Highway, had St. Joseph police and area businesses in a panic late Thursday morning.
A call came in about 10:50 a.m. that a man was seen at the fast food restaurant with a gun to an employee’s head. Police called the establishment, where the manager told authorities that it was simply a training exercise and no one was harmed.
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I would think a business planning this kind of training exercise would inform the police in advance. This could have ended badly if the wrong customer or passerby had seen the incident.
I hope this is a wake up call for the management at Sonic..Knowing this is on a busy strip...Why didn't they stop and think that someone could see this and mistake it for the real thing...Now they have put themselves in danger to the fact that if it were to actually happen within a couple of days someone witnessing it will very well dismiss it as an excersise!
or someone packing taking matters in their own hands.
Poor decision on Sonic for handling it this way.
does michael scott manage the st. joe sonic now?
Soooo...can I still get my delicious tater tots?
Newtojoetown, I think Dwight was behind it.
really lucky pistol packin' pete the citizen did not rush in guns blazing. this had the potential for a real disaster.
So, St. Joe PD's response to a report of an armed assailant/hostage situation is to make a phone call?!!
What kind of training is this??? What were they thinking? This is the dumbest training tool I have ever heard of and I hope the regional manager gets wind of it and makes some changes at that location.
Everyone is quick to poo-poo on the sonic management now but if your slurpin on your 44-oz cherry lime aid and woofin down your coney dog and then... in the door rushes an armed madman, those trained sonic employees look like ninjas taking out the gunman and securing a perimeter until the local authorities can take over. There's strong and then there's Sonic strong. Ooo-Rah
ELH-Often as the officers are responding, it is not uncommon for the dipatcher to call the place of business or the original caller for updates on the situation and etc.
Oh I agree with the Agent if I was with my grandkids eating a sonic meal I will now feel more comfortable knowing the management has taken the time to train his staff, Thank You.
Uh, Yeah bundun I think Agent was being sarcastic, do you really think Sonic is training up a crop of Jack Bauer's to protect their patrons. I can hear it now "my kid went to work at Sonic and they sent him to boot camp for 12- weeks he's hoping to get accepted in ranger school."
Weren't people just criticizing business owners for not doing anything proactive during the robbery strings.
This story has went national. LMAO
http://consumerist.com/5405505/sonic-manager-sends-fake-gunman-to-rob-his-joint