Former store employee claims he was fired for assisting Denver police officers

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A long-tenured Home Depot employee said he was fired for coming to the aid of law enforcement.

Joe Pumilio said he came to the aid of two Denver police officers outside the Bear Valley Home Depot on Sept. 11. The store is located in Denver’s Harvey Park South neighborhood near Bear Creek.

A Denver police spokesperson confirmed officers responded to the store on Sept. 11. Pumilio said two officers were intercepting a man wanted on drug charges when a fight broke out and all three fell to the ground.

“Pretty violent confrontation,” Pumilio noted, and thus stepped in to help.

Nearly two weeks later, the 62-year-old good Samaritan said he was informed by management that he was being let go for being involved in the incident. Management said he violated company policy.

Pumilio said he believes company policy is that he cannot fight or touch any customer and is considering pursuing legal action. The former law enforcement officer said that despite the termination, he would do it all over again.

“Corporate has a policy and they say that there are no exceptions,” Pumilio said. “But in life, there are exceptions, and we deal in life, not in corporate policy.”

An email sent to the Home Depot Corporate Office by NewsNation affiliate KDVR for comment on this matter was not immediately answered.

In the days since his termination, Pumilio said he has received a number of messages of support from Denver police officers and was told he might be on the receiving end of a letter of commendation.

If you would like to help the family, a GoFundMe has been established .

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