What would YOU do?

[Bubba1235]

So I get a call form an associate / competitor yesterday and he related how he came across child porn (The real deal from his description) while working on a customers computer at a Fortune 500 company two weeks ago. He reported it to the general manager of the facility and was told to wipe the hard drive and reload Windows and apps and the general manager would handle it. When told to do this the general manager reminded him he was under a non-disclosure agreement and anything on any company computer was considered confidential and he could not discuss it with anyone outside the company. He refused to do so saying that was destruction of evidence of a crime and he would not be party to it. Actually he told the general manager the man shoiuld be arrested. Yesterday he was told his services were no longer required and his contract terminated. He asked if I had ever ran into this situation and how I handled it and I told him I had never been in that position but if it were me I would go over his head to the corporate office HR person and tell them what was going on and after having first informed them I would contact the local police.

His fear, one that is very real, is that no one likes a whistle blower and there are always ramifications. (The factory automation industry is a fairly small group and most everyone knows or knows of most of the players. Word WILL get around.) The only thing I could tell him is I wouldn't care and would make the calls anyway but, I am close to retirement age so it would not be the same for me as it is for him and he had to make a choice he could live with. We hung up without his having made any real decision but he was glad we talked.

So my question to you folks is, What would you do? Would you put your career in jepordy by blowing the whistle or would you just pretend you seen nothing and remain quiet?

 

[halfmoa]

Re: What would YOU do?

I'd call the police department immediately and if I was fired the next day I'd go straight to the lawyer, unemployment office, and local news station in that order.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: What would YOU do?

He is a self employed contractor so there is no "firing", they just canceled his contract which either party has the right to do.

But I agree, I'd let them know I was calling the cops and then make the call.

Well in that case I'd change my answer to calling the PD and then calling the ethics office of the company with very, very specific information in regards to who told me to remove the evidence.

 

[lncoop]

Re: What would YOU do?

At this point he has direct knowledge of criminal activity. I believe he's required by law to report it. Sounds like an attorney consultation is in order. That really sucks Bubba. I'm sorry for the gentleman.

 

[aspeck]

Re: What would YOU do?

With what happened to Joe Paterno, we have learned that even if you just report up the chain of command, you will be held accountable, maybe not criminally, but morally. At the very least he needs to go over the head of the General Manager. He should go to the authorities if he does not get a satisfactory response from the higher-ups. He did the right thing in not wiping the HD. Courtesy to his contracted employer dictates he keeps the higher ups informed of what he is doing ... not the alleged perpetrator. The difference with he and Joe is that Joe had second hand knowledge and your friend has first hand knowledge, so I would think his responsibility would be even greater.

 

[aspeck]

Re: What would YOU do?

I guess you asked what we WOULD do, not what should be done. In that case, I would notify higher up the chain and let them know the police will be notified asap. Then I would contact my lawyer so he could be with me as I filed the report to make sure I crossed the t's and dotted the i's in the reporting process.... I wouldn't want the guy to get off because of a technicality on my end.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: What would YOU do?

I may have even slid out the door with it under my arm and taken it to the PD if I got that kind of answer from management.

 

[JB]

Re: What would YOU do?

Not easy. The repliers agree that he should do the right thing, but they aren't the ones whose career may be at risk.

I would call my attorney immediately and get his help in reporting my findings first to the police, then to the company executives.

 

[aspeck]

Re: What would YOU do?

I may have even slid out the door with it under my arm and taken it to the PD if I got that kind of answer from management.

Yep, the amazing thing about something like this is that it is so emotional, and the more you think about it the more things you think you might do, but when you are in the middle of the situation ... how would my mind work????? Such a range of emotions from rage and anger at the perp to disbelief and denial, from bravado (knock him into next week and teach him a lesson) to cowardice because there are so many lives on the line (the victims, the accused, if the allegations are false ... what if someone else put them there?, to the family of the accused, to my own job). Each situation would be so different and how I would interpret and react would probably have a lot to do with my predisposition towards the accused. I am not saying that is right, either ... just very pensive about all of this ...

 

[halfmoa]

Re: What would YOU do?

Not easy. The repliers agree that he should do the right thing, but they aren't the ones whose career may be at risk.

I would call my attorney immediately and get his help in reporting my findings first to the police, then to the company executives.

While this is true, I've worked in law enforcement long enough to have seen countless people have a million pounds of pressue lifted off their shoulders when they come in to file a report like this. My view on a topic like this is that if you're not part of the solution then you're part of the problem.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: What would YOU do?

I am in Law Enforcement and I would strongly recommend reporting it. Very often child porn is just the tip of the iceberg, ids could be in real danger from that individual!

 

[lncoop]

Re: What would YOU do?

I think you hit it spot on JB. Most people will say they would do the right thing but the truth is no one likes a whistle blower and it often carries penalty points for those that do it.

No question, but even from a purely pragmatic perspective there are potential culpability issues (we're talking legality, not merely morality) with failure to report criminal activity. The only thing I'm certain I would do is consult my lawyer.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: What would YOU do?

What I would NOT do is take the content of an implicitly confidential conversation and open it up to discussion in an internet forum....even if I had sought his permission. (you did ask him if that was OK didn't you? To do otherwise would be a pretty flagrant breach of trust and privacy)

These details are hearsay at best and what any of us would do is irrelevant....the only thing that counts is what your associate will do, unless YOU ARE PREPARED TO REPORT IT TO AUTHORITIES YOURSELF.

Reporting it to us is just <insert inappropriate term for DSC>

 

[JRJ]

Re: What would YOU do?

By now, there may not be any evidence left for the police. Assuming the stuff crosses state lines, wouldn't this be a Federal crime? I hope he reported it. Its not whistle blowing in my mind, just a good Samaritan helping to bring one or more freaks to justice and quite possibly saving a child or several in the bargain.
In future, when illegal activity is spotted, preserve evidence, and report to the proper authority. The chain of command may be part of the problem. Good luck to your friend.

 

[oops!]

Re: What would YOU do?

your friend needs to go to the police bubba.

kids are in danger

 

[dave11]

Re: What would YOU do?

your friend need to go to the police bubba.

kids are in danger

Good call.

 

[nwcove]

Re: What would YOU do?

i'd rather be on welfare than to pretend i didnt see something like that. and if i were a client of the company that fired/cancelled the contract for the person that brought this to the attention of the law, i would cut my ties with that company. the guy should get accolades for reporting it, not dismissed......what is wrong with society??????????????

 

[southkogs]

Re: What would YOU do?

When I worked in the photolabs (3 different companies over 6 years) you were told that you MUST report it to the authorities right away. By not reporting it, you were putting yourself (personally) and the company (photolab) in as much jeopardy as the alleged perpetrator.

Personally - I couldn't live with myself just walking away.

I've seen some crazy stuff over the years (amazing what people will document photographically). It's hard to make me sick to my stomach, but that's one of the things that'll do it.

 

[oops!]

Re: What would YOU do?

up here in Canada we have a thing called crime stoppers. it is an anonymous tip line.....422 tips....goes all over Canada.

you guys got anything like that in the states?

 

[KDAVID1]

Re: What would YOU do?

I'd call the police department immediately and if I was fired the next day I'd go straight to the lawyer, unemployment office, and local news station in that order.

x100 enough said