So how do your colleagues feel about these two?

Joe....formally notify your local Police department of your boss's behaviour, particularly in light of his having a carry permit.

If nothing comes of it....fine....if it progresses further it'll be on record that there is a 'history' of a problem.

When in doubt....leave.  Life, carreer, etc is not worth the BS perpetrated upon you by a third party.

Supervisors were constantly cursing me, trying to provoke me. They would just deny it. Those who witnessed it, were afraid for their jobs. So, they wouldn't talk.

Exactly...

I most certainly do not want to fight... but I can't let this just go away. I have to say something. what if he does it to someone else? what about the drunk guy? what if he hurts someone? What if they hurt me?

No, I fight.

The one mistake I did make was staying. I should have tried to quit on good terms somehow.

My uncles boss did the same but it has been a while since he worked there, he just told him fine and to hire someone who would work as hard and take his Sh*t like he did and left. His boss called an hour later appoligizing asking him to come back, now he leaves him alone.
Sometimes you just gota face ppl.

digital voice recorders

I even got one of those myself too. It caused even more trouble when my supervisors knew I had one. It made them more hostile. Unfortunately before one of their cursing escapades I couldn't get the turn thing to work right. It ate the tape just before the event happened.

formally notify your local Police department of your boss's behaviour

My Police Department told me that this was an employment matter and best handled by my Union. They said they wouldn't come out and go through the finger pointings and the he saids, she saids. Even after I was assaulted the police said it was a union/personnel matter. I can imagine how hostile the situation would have become if the personnel department found out that I had the Police come to the facility.

When in doubt....leave. Life, carreer, etc is not worth the BS perpetrated upon you by a third party

My point exactly. This is my advice too. From someone, who you can see, has gone through, and is going through worse as a result of having stayed.

If you stay and fight, it will get worse. And, you will be terminated. Then, your career will be effected and your salary potential. What top notch job is going to want to hire someone who was terminated and from their prospective, a trouble maker? I had to take a serious salary cut just to get a chance. I found a company who was willing to give me a chance because of my extensive background, and it has been much better. But, a cloud still hangs over my head, because they know. You have to tell them too. If they find out, you will be terminated immediately for concealing information about prior employment.

If you stay and be quiet, you may survive and maybe they may even eventually leave you alone because it is useless fighting with someone who doesn't respond. But, that may take a long time. You will become their dog. The dog for them to kick when they feel the need. And maybe they will start to look at their own behavior in treating someone so badly who does nothing to them.

Your final choice.. get out. Find another job with the same/better salary and a better working environment. When you are asked about the previous job, you can just say that you like the opportunity that this new job offers. Unforunately, that wasn't my choice.

My Police Department told me that this was an employment matter and best handled by my Union. They said they wouldn't come out and go through the finger pointings and the he saids, she saids. Even after I was assaulted the police said it was a union/personnel matter. I can imagine how hostile the situation would have become if the personnel department found out that I had the Police come to the facility.

The guy who put his hands to my face in an ex-police officer.

I dont know... I never had a job like this. Others won't say anything (but talk about it all the time)... what ever. I just don't get why a job has to be like this.

It doesnt.

Bad environments, whether they be work or personal, move on. JTB, yours is bad real bad, no point in staying that I can see, voice activated tape recorders, gun permits, threats, secret decoder rings.....get out, any job, even one that doesn't pay as well, but will at least get yourself out of this nightmare, so that you can have the sanity to find a better work environment and pay, without worrying about what's happening at work. Good Luck.

As for job references, reputable companies know that the only thing that they can ask of a previous employer is verification of employment dates, that's it. Any employer asking for more than that, is shady and breaking laws. The only reason that I know this is because at the last company I worked for I had strict guidelines for hiring, interviewing and calling on references or giving out references.

JTB, listen to Chas, let it go and get out! This job almost killed you before and now you're being physically intimidated by your bosses, what job is worth that?
I understand wanting to fight, but first you have to take care of yourself. Sometimes you just have to remove yourself from a situation. Get yourself some peace and get out! You'll thank yourself later. [ and Chas, of course
]

I just don't get why a job has to be like this.

I have a few ideas about it. One reason is that a lot of people are stuck with no opportunity for advancement. The job gets boring and they create their own excitement by humiliating others. Another idea I have is that some people are so miserable in the own life that the only enjoyment they get is by trying to make others more miserable than they are. This way they feel better. Its a sad way to live, I think.

Others won't say anything (but talk about it all the time)

This situation itself is creating a problem for you. When you talk about it, don't you think that it gets back to the person who is causing the problem for you? If he walks by and the conversation gets quiet, don't you think he knows that you are talking about him? And, I'm sure he won't like you telling everyone how terrible he is. Talking about it to others at work or anyone you work with, only makes it worse for you. You might find that the situation will get better if you don't talk about it to your fellow employees.

I just don't get why a job has to be like this.

It's a dog eat dog world. The thing is that as long as you have your reputation and job history is intact, you have great potential to find another equal or better paying job with a better work environment. If you stay and fight, all this is going to be taken away from you.

Your choices are, as I'm sure that you know now..
1)Stay and fight and lose you job and hiring potential and reputation as an employee.
2)Be quiet and take it. If you're strong and real "thick skinned" as they say.
3)Get out and find a equal or better paying job with a better working environment for yourself.

If I had to do it all again, I would follow No.2 and work like hell to make it to No.3. I really wish I was in your position. But I understand, as was my problem, that people get complacent. It takes a lot of effort to get to No.3 when you work 40 hours or more a week. If I only knew then what I know now, that effort would not have been a problem. Oh well..

Mr. Joe....since you are trained in security, there are plenty of places now that have on site officers....the building I work in has a couple on site 24-7....and it's in a corporate business park area....not a real busy place to work, and it's not in a high risk area. But they are needed in many places, banks and such often have officers stationed in them. You have the training, why not leave where you are and hunt for a better place with less stress to it? Life is very precious and should be enjoyed, not lived under constant pressure and stress. Find someplace where you can be happy and have some peace. Blessings to you.

Thanks guys for the ideas and support. I am still trying to figure out what to do.

Chanllenge him to a dome fight

If I challenged him to that then I would loose because I do not know how to play.

Anyway, an update on this situation will be coming soon... I really that you guys for your ideas. It helped allot.

If he does that frequently just hide a webcam.
Theyve even come out with a usb stick like cam, very compact.

Justtheblow,

justtheblow, I've ed some info for you that I hope helps some. The following is the law in the good old US of A and for everyone including you. I was a supervisore and this is one of many laws I had to abide by. Goodluck and get out of the situation as quickly as posible. if he is as quick to anger as you say and the state of NYC lets him carry a gun, someone can get hurt seriously, quickly and at that point it's to late.

Retaliation Defined
Retaliation means any adverse action that you or someone who works for you takes against the employee because he or she complained about harassment or discrimination. Adverse action includes demotion, discipline, firing, salary reduction, negative evaluation, change in job assignment or change in shift assignment.
Retaliation can also include hostile behavior or attitudes by you or someone who works for you toward an employee who complains

Pssst Roger.....It's joetheblow

Sorry joetheblow for the name mix up, I was so pissed off about the situation you are in that I miss typed and I'm sorry. I can relate to the helplessness you must be feeling, I too just resently was in almost the same situation you are in, minus the gun. My boss was an over agressive, micromaneing anal retaintive jerk that made all of the people working for him misrable. There was a team of six of us, we repaired and supplied helpdesk service for a college of over 1500 users. Last month 4 of us resigned and walked in the same week. they are still trying to fill the spots, we did leave hr letters explaing what had happened and that they had been alowing this to happen over a pierod of time. I'm still looking for work, and yes I'm a little concerned in finding another, but my over all health has in proved 100% and the stress has disapeared in the same amount. if you have a loving family that understands and loves you more as I'm sure they do than the monatary value of that hellhole you work in, they will support you and love you just as much until you fine another job. The money and job is not worth the toll the job takes on your health no matter the length of time invested in the job. If that ass loses his temper and shoots you, you being dead won't help. Get out Now and look for work else where. Don't just listen to me, listen to all these other wonderful people trying to help you.
God bless and god speed in you quest. Roger

Well, good news or bad I guess, I am going to meet with my manager on Friday... Noon to be precise.

So, I have written an outline of questions I have and statements I might have to make]. I am also bringing a note pad for taking notes.

They are probably going to fire me on Friday because I spoke to the client about his Directors behavior (why did I do that? because I learned quite fast that I could not trust the manager and his boss, the Senior manager about issues like this). So I took it to the only person I would hope would clear the situation... the clients boss.

Basically, they are going to try to put me on trial on Friday. I might let them, but then again if they 'open a door' for me to walk through I will tell it like it is. For me, this meeting is to get my questions solved.

It is not looking to good for my company... they made some very big errors.

Oh and this website helped me out allot:

An Attorney for You
http://www.anattorneyforyou.com

and

Legal Match
http://www.legalmatch.com

Best of luck JTB, I guess you choose option 1.

Joe, you're doing the right thing. Stick to your guns and be honest, don't get emotional! I wish you luck.

So MGiff, are you going to hire him? I think I read that you have family who will help you, JTB. You are lucky. I don't have any family anymore. So, being proud would mean, jobless and homeless for me.

Talking about it to others at work or anyone you work with, only makes it worse for you.

Remember?

I've been through this before, my friend. I had supervisors swinging their arms in my face trying to get me to fight them, right in front of the directors window. The director even admitted that he saw what this supervisor was doing. Nothing matters except your reaction when you are the target. Then you are said to be paranoid. I'm not making this up, a Judge actually said it about me in this situation. The courts later removed him from my case. See what I mean, its a real tough situation.

Your best option at this point is too completely humble yourself. But, you probably won't do this. This is what I do now. When you are smart, some people feel threatened and try to attack you. If you humble yourself, they have to look at themselves because you are giving them no ammunition. If you give them ammunition, its bye bye.

The trick, a lot of the time, is to avoid confrontation before it happens. If you see someone doing something totally wrong, sometimes its best not to say anything to them, unless you are their supervisor.
If you tell their supervisor then you are being a tattle tale, and hatred from this person and even anger, from your supervisor, towards you may result.

When someone tries to get a confrontation with me, the best satisfaction I get is when they walk away with a deflated look on their face. I get this look a lot at work even now. When I do a good job afterwards and I win best employee of the month, this is double satisfaction. Fighters rarely win best employee. It depends on where you want to be in the job market. Its a tough world out there. You have to learn how to survive.