Disney Security Guard Arrested in Sex Sting

[Eoghann]

My biggest problems with this (specifically toward Disney) are: 1) this man had a prior violent record and Disney still employed him as a security guard for their parks. That is negligence on their part. 2) He was not fired. He was put on unpaid leave pending the conviction. Disney should fire him immediately.

I agree that we have to be extra vigilant and careful withe our children's surroundings even at Disney. But I should be able to trust that they will do background checks on their security guards and not hire someone with a violent record. And that they would take this seriously and terminate him immediately.

Well for a start you don't fire immediately because you don't want to risk getting sued. Unpaid leave is safer since there is the little matter of innocent until proven regardless of how guilty he looks...

As for the violent record it appears it was a misdemeanor without knowing the details it's really not clear whether that in itself is reason not to hire the guy. There are lots of people working security jobs who have records.

 

[DisAli Mom]

Just really scary to me that this kind of stuff is out there. Feeds my general paranoia and makes me more of a helicopter mom.... But I would rather know than not.

I know that all this existed before, and we were all just blissfully ignorant. Scary to me though how much could have happened but didn't on my parents' watch. Oh the stories I could tell...

 

[ChipnDale79]

Just really scary to me that this kind of stuff is out there. Feeds my general paranoia and makes me more of a helicopter mom.... But I would rather know than not.

I know that all this existed before, and we were all just blissfully ignorant. Scary to me though how much could have happened but didn't on my parents' watch. Oh the stories I could tell...

The good thing about these stories being every where now is that we can protect our kids more.

 

[DisAli Mom]

The good thing about these stories being every where now is that we can protect our kids more.

Completely agree

 

[DisneyDad2015]

Not to be defending this person, but...

1) His prior "violent record" was one misdemeanor arrest for a domestic issue. Doesn't say anything more. Doesn't say whether he was convicted. Doesn't say whether charges were dropped. Doesn't give any specifics. Some states have laws that say if a woman calls and claims a domestic violence issue, the man has to be taken away and held. (This is to protect the woman, so she doesn't rescind out of fear and something worse happens.) We don't know what happened here.

2) As ugly as this all sounds in the report, we do live in a country of innocent until proven guilty. Disney can't be firing someone at this point. Can you say lawsuit???? He's on unpaid leave until convicted. That sounds like the strongest action they can take.

I don't think you can be holding Disney responsible in this case.

I'm not holding Disney responsible for his actions, but I am for their own negligence. It's not about the fact that they hired him as much as the fact he was hired as a security guard. Even if he was never convicted and it was just a charge, that's a bad business decision for this very reason. They took a chance on him and lost.

And yes, they have every legal right to fire him for the charges. This is not a case of simple accusation. He was caught red handed. BRAVO SeaWorld for taking immediate action against their employee who was also caught during the sting, "Becca Bides, SeaWorld corporate communications director, said, 'There is no greater responsibility than protecting the safety of our guests and ambassadors, and we have extensive measures in place including pre-employment criminal background checks and ongoing proactive security measures within our parks. We have zero tolerance for potential safety threats and have taken swift and appropriate action in this case.'" I would have loved to see Disney take such a stance.

 

[DisneyDad2015]

Just really scary to me that this kind of stuff is out there. Feeds my general paranoia and makes me more of a helicopter mom.... But I would rather know than not.

I know that all this existed before, and we were all just blissfully ignorant. Scary to me though how much could have happened but didn't on my parents' watch. Oh the stories I could tell...

I completely agree. It makes me sad that I can't say to my child, "If we get separated for any reason, find a security guard" and know with confidence that they will protect my child and help them. One of the men in the sting was a former firefighter. So sad. They are supposed to serve and protect.

 

[JoWilly]

Not to be defending this person, but...

1) His prior "violent record" was one misdemeanor arrest for a domestic issue. Doesn't say anything more. Doesn't say whether he was convicted. Doesn't say whether charges were dropped. Doesn't give any specifics. Some states have laws that say if a woman calls and claims a domestic violence issue, the man has to be taken away and held. (This is to protect the woman, so she doesn't rescind out of fear and something worse happens.) We don't know what happened here.

2) As ugly as this all sounds in the report, we do live in a country of innocent until proven guilty. Disney can't be firing someone at this point. Can you say lawsuit???? He's on unpaid leave until convicted. That sounds like the strongest action they can take.

I don't think you can be holding Disney responsible in this case.

Agreed about your second point. If we as a society started firing people on suspicion until proven guilty then i doubt very much you would see anyone employed for very long.

 

[JoWilly]

I'm not holding Disney responsible for his actions, but I am for their own negligence. It's not about the fact that they hired him as much as the fact he was hired as a security guard. Even if he was never convicted and it was just a charge, that's a bad business decision for this very reason. They took a chance on him and lost.

And yes, they have every legal right to fire him for the charges. This is not a case of simple accusation. He was caught red handed. BRAVO SeaWorld for taking immediate action against their employee who was also caught during the sting, "Becca Bides, SeaWorld corporate communications director, said, 'There is no greater responsibility than protecting the safety of our guests and ambassadors, and we have extensive measures in place including pre-employment criminal background checks and ongoing proactive security measures within our parks. We have zero tolerance for potential safety threats and have taken swift and appropriate action in this case.'" I would have loved to see Disney take such a stance.

Wrong, their legal team disagrees with your legal opinion on whether they can fire him before he is actually convicted in a court of law.