On August 20, 1986, a part-time letter carrier named Patrick H. Sherrill, facing possible dismissal after a troubled work history.

On August 20, 1986, a part-time letter carrier named Patrick H. Sherrill, facing possible dismissal after a troubled work history, walked into the Edmond, Oklahoma, post office where he worked and shot 14 people to death before killing himself. Prior to the Edmond shootings, the few research

However, contrary to popular opinion, sensational multiple homicides represent a very small number of workplace violence incidents. The majority of incidents that employees/managers have to deal with on a daily basis are lesser cases of assault, domestic violence, stalking, threats, harassment, and physical and/or emotional abuse that make no headlines.

Many of these incidents, in fact, are not even reported to company officials, let alone to police. Estimates of the costs, from lost work time and wages, reduced productivity, medical costs, workers' compensation payments, and legal and security expenses clearly run into many billions of dollars.

Workplace Violence: Issues in Response

Federal Bureau of Investigation

www.fbi.gov