My job requires me to monitor the comings and goings of residents and visitors at the apartment building I work in. The building is actually two buildings on the same block, divided by an alley. Most of my work is done in the tower building, not the courtyard building. I do more than watch the front door… such as, collect/distribute packages, coordinate move-in/move-outs that require the freight elevator, answer questions for visitors, receive complaints/requests from residents… your average property management part-time job. It’s not a bad gig, it allows me to go to school and work on the weekends. Most of the time it’s pretty quiet, sometimes painfully so. Except tonight.
Tonight I experienced my first major confrontation that made me fear for my safety. The building is a secure property so everyone is supposed to use their key. If they are visitors, they can either use the call box and be buzzed in or call the resident and wait for them to come to the door to get them. Those are the rules. Sometimes, of course, people going out let people come in without much of a care. But, my job, while I’m on duty, is to monitor the people coming and going to be sure the property is as safe as possible. I’m not a security officer, just a door person.
Tonight, I had a guy come to the door and motion for me to answer. I asked if I could help him. He said he was visiting someone in 808. I asked if he was a resident. No. I informed him he must either use the call box or call him to come to the door. He was frustrated but seemed to make an attempt to call. A few moments later, I was summoned to the door again. This time he decided to convince me that he used to live in the building and intimidate me by pointing out that I must be new cause otherwise I’d recognize him. I apologized for the inconvenience but reinforced the fact that he must either use the call box or wait for his friend. He pushed his point, I pushed mine. He got angry, I threatened to call the police, he ever so impolitely told me to do so. As I left the locked door to find a phone, I heard him yelling just about every profanity I’ve ever heard… at me. I was shaking and not quite sure what to do (mental note: ask the boss what procedure is on something like this). While most of my shift is spent in conjunction with leasing staff, by this time at night I was alone.
Before I could get to a phone, I saw a resident leave and inadvertently let the guy in. He was on his cell phone and I tried to get his attention as he headed for the elevator. I told him he was not allowed in the building without being escorted by a resident. He called me a few words and told me to go away. I told him again and again he needed to leave. He began yelling at me as the elevator door opened and I finally let him go.
I went back to the office and called a coworker who lives in the building. She came down to the lobby and got the details. She headed off to the apartment where the guy was headed and as the door of the elevator opened, he walked off the elevator. She turned to ask me if that was him and I confirmed it. He let into both of us. She tried to help him understand the rules, he called us very bad things. We told him to leave, he kept yelling. I picked up the phone to call 911 and he kept yelling. Just as the 911 operator answered, he left.
I informed the operator that there had been a situation at hand that made me fear for my safety but that the man had left and all seemed to be ok. She thanked me for calling and asked me to call again if he returned. My coworker and I contacted the resident where the guy had been headed. Come to find out, the guy doesn’t even know him except in passing. Had received a call that was just him screaming profanities (that was him screaming at me) and had hung up. The resident came down to the office to apologize and offer whatever assistance he could in making sure the guy doesn’t return.
It made for an interesting night. It reminded me of how unaccustomed I am at being verbally assaulted by a stranger. It made me fear for a moment that he would wait for me after work and follow me home. I’m glad I live only a block away. I feel safe in the area, except for situations like that.
There are things I’d do differently next time. I’d stand at the door, call 911 and keep him from entering the building. I’d wait there as long as he did until the police showed up. I’d take his picture with my camera phone for identification purposes. And I’d get any witnesses to give me their apt number and phone number for follow-up.
That’s next time. As for this time, I’m still recovering. It shook me up. But, I’m ok. I guess going into the field of counseling, I should get used to people taking their anger out on me. Hopefully I never get used to this type of behavior though.
