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There are inevitably going to be disagreements among coworkers when you’re in a line of work where you share a physical space. Most people don’t have to worry about a colleague brandishing a firearm over a petty dispute, but that was the case with a police officer in South Carolina who is out of a job and facing criminal charges after hitting a breaking point over microwaved fish.
A number of notable philosophers have penned treatises concerning the “social contract” that essentially serves as the foundation of human civilization. The specific clauses of the contract in question may vary from place to place and evolve over time, but the idea refers to the social norms people are expected to abide by to promote the greater good as opposed to a world that revolves around selfish individualism.
There are codified versions of the social contract in the laws people are required to follow. That term can also refer to largely unspoken rules that everyone is expected to respect while going through life and promoting the kind of order a so-called “polite society” needs to function.
That includes the etiquette that is meant to prevent physical workplaces from devolving into a vocational version of Lord of the Flies, and one person who committed a major microwave-related faux pas at a police station in South Carolina managed to rile up a colleague who did not have the most rational reaction.
A police officer in South Carolina pulled a gun on a coworker who put fish in the microwave
Workplace kitchens have the potential to be the source of some heated disputes between coworkers due to accusations of stolen food, arguments over cleaning responsibilities, and the various odors you may encounter while entering one.
In a perfect world, no one would ever have their nostrils assaulted by the smell of microwaved fish. It’s one thing to willingly subject yourself to it in the confines of your home, but I feel like most people are aware that’s a line you never cross when it comes to the place where you work.
However, according to ABC News, one member of the Myrtle Beach Police Department in South Carolina didn’t have any qualms about nuking some seafood in the kitchen of the station on Saturday, May 30th. That decision did not fly with Michael Debiase, the 46-year-old detective who reportedly “drew and pointed his department-issued handgun” at the offending officer while voicing his displeasure with the odor.
Debiase was placed on administrative leave before ending up at the center of an investigation that led to his dismissal as well as his arrest on the charge of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person. His bond was set at $5,000 after he appeared in court on Tuesday, and he will return for a hearing on August 14th.