Nouria Energy Responds to Firing of Clerk with Gun

The following statement was issued Oct. 16 by T.J. Winick, Vice President of Boston-based Solomon McCown & Company, on behalf of Nouria Energy Corporation in response to the firing of Shannon "Bear" Cothran:

"At Nouria Energy, our employees are our most cherished assets. Their safety and the safety of our customers is priority number one.  It is with that goal in mind that we do not allow firearms in the workplace.   We specifically train our employees on how to react during a robbery attempt to prevent the situation from escalating. Cashiers are instructed to give the intruder what they ask for in an attempt to resolve the conflict peacefully and as soon as possible.

Make no mistake: we care about the personal well-being of employees like Mr. Cothran, whose  years of service are truly appreciated--not about the money in the cash register. So, we are especially grateful that this situation was resolved without injury.

We do respect the constitutional right to bear arms. However, we believe the best way to keep our employees and customers safe is to prohibit weapons in the workplace. Our training and policies are aligned with what is customary in the retail/conveniences store industries and is consistent with advice offered by security and police organizations."

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