Directing a specific threat of physical harm against an individual, group of individuals or property is against the law, and therefore a violation of Rule 1.  Violation of this rule will result in a minimum exclusion of one year. This rule is intended to help maintain the library as a safe and welcoming environment for staff and patrons.

• Does the prohibition on specific threats of physical harm apply only when a patron threatens a staff member?
  • It applies when a patron threatens a staff member or group of staff, a patron or group of patrons.
• How do I distinguish a “specific threat of physical harm”?
  • It is not considered a specific threat of physical harm if a patron says he/she, “will talk to your supervisor” or, “I’ll have your job!” It is considered a specific threat of physical harm when an oral or written statement or a physical action, as interpreted by a “reasonable person,” causes fear for the safety and/or the life of an individual, a group of individuals or their property.
• What if I’m not sure they meant it to be a “real” threat?
  • If someone speaks, writes, or acts out a “specific threat of physical harm”, it is an automatic one year exclusion. Multnomah County Library reserves the right to reduce or extend the length of any exclusion upon review or appeal.

Examples

Below are some examples of potential “threats” against staff and/or patrons pulled from incident reports — and whether or not each is a violation of behavior rule 1 (violation of the law-specific threat) versus rule 3 (engaging in conduct that disturbs library staff or patrons) or another rule.

1. Patron Stephanie, sitting at a computer, tells patron Jane sitting next to her “I’ll punch your face in.” This said after patron Jane told patron Stephanie to be quiet.
   • Stephanie has violated rule 1 by directing a specific threat of physical harm to Jane.
2. Patron Faith loudly tells a group of teens to be quiet. Teen Bonita yells back and is subsequently asked to leave for the day. Teen Bonita walks slowly out of the library, cursing and saying she is going to, “kick someone’s ass,” while walking down the aisle and out the building.
   • Bonita has not directed her threat toward an individual, group of individuals or property; she has not violated rule 1. She may have violated rule 3.
3. Patron Roger left the library for one-day exclusion but not very cooperatively. He re-entered the building, and a staff member took his picture in preparation of a potential longer exclusion. Patron Roger turned and strode towards the staff member with the camera saying “[you] should not be taking my picture” and he was going to, “slap [staff member]”. Roger then left the building while cursing and yelling.
   • Roger directed a threat of physical harm against the staff member when he said he was going to slap the staff member; Roger violated rule 1. His other behavior may constitute a violation of rule 3.
4. While dealing with a group of noisy teens, staff Luis asked patron Douglas to moderate foul language and follow library computer rules. Douglas used racially toned language towards Luis and was asked to leave. While leaving, Luis told Douglas “that’s it, keep walking”. Douglas turned around, rushed up to Luis, and pushed his chest against Luis’ chest.
   • Douglas assaulted Luis; assault is a violation of rule 1. Douglas’ other behavior may constitute a violation of rule 3.
5. Patron Armando is upset and asked to leave for the day after being verbally disrespectful to staff Gregor. Armando refused to leave and was told the exclusion will be extended if he continues to refuse to leave. Armando tells staff to extend his exclusion. Armando left the building while Gregor was retrieving a camera for an exclusion photo. When Gregor attempted to take an exclusion photo of Armando on the walkway, Armando came back and said, “take a picture and see what happens to your life.” Armando then turned away towards parking lot. With more distance between them, Gregor took photo. Armando then said, “you better watch it when the library closes.”
   • Armando has behaved in a threatening manner but has not directed a threat of physical harm against Gregor. Armando has violated rule 3. If Gregor feels unsafe because of Armando’s behavior, he should inform his supervisor and safety measures can be taken.
6. Staff Caterina asked patrons Shaun and Shantelle to leave for the day for using profanity. Both have been excluded for the day for the same offense on previous occasions. Shaun responded to the exclusion by saying, “get away from me bitch, if you touch me I’ll kick your ass.” While Shaun was leaving, Caterina told him the exclusion was extended to three months. Shaun responded with additional profanity and verbal threats of physical violence. Shantelle left the building quietly.
   • Shaun has directed a threat of physical violence to Caterina, violating rule 1. Shantelle has not violated rule 1.
7. Patron Rinaldo is asked to leave for the day by staff Brian. Rinaldo yelled, “I know which car is yours, and I am going to destroy it.” Also, “I’ll follow you home and kill you. You’re dead.”
   • Rinaldo has violated rule 1 by directing specific threats of physical harm against Brian and Brian’s property. If Brian feels unsafe, he should inform his supervisor so safety measures can be taken.
8. Patron Norman is typing loudly on the computer keyboard. Patron Stanley asks him to be quiet. Norman refuses using rude language and Stanley says, “I oughta kick your ass.”
   • Stanley and Norman have both violated rule 3. Stanley has not violated rule 1 because “I ought to” or “I should” statements are not specific threats.
9. Patron Rhonda tells staff that patron GeorgeAnne called out to her, “Fuck you! You’re dead! Your children are dead!” When staff Julie tried to tell GeorgeAnne she needed to leave the building, GeorgeAnne is agitated and calls Julie a bitch, and threatens to kill her if she gets too close. GeorgeAnne eventually leaves after filling out a comment card.
   • GeorgeAnne violated rule 1 by directing a specific threat of physical harm against Julie when she threatened to kill her if she got close to GeorgeAnne. GeorgeAnne’s statements to Rhonda are also specific threats of physical harm. It appears from the circumstances that GeorgeAnne’s intent was to communicate that she was threatening to kill Rhonda and her children.
10. The contract security officer asked patron Dimitri to leave the building. Dimitri refused to leave and continued arguing with them for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, Dimitri also approached the PIC with his fist cocked back, which caused him to step back. The officer  then stepped between Dimitri and the PIC because they thought Dimitri might assault him.
    • Threats can be nonverbal. Dimitri used his body to specifically threaten the PIC with physical violence. Dimitri violated rule 1.
11. (From exclusion letter) [during the phone call] You claimed that you had the right to call a library staff member a “racist pig.” You also said you believed that all library staff are racist and incompetent. As the conversation continued, you seemed to get angry and directed several profanities at me before saying, “if you ban me from the library, I will get my lawyer on you and get all my fucking guns and shit and kill every mother fucker in the building.” Then you abruptly hung up on me.
    • The patron’s threat of “[I will] get all my fucking guns and shit and kill every mother fucker in the building” is a specific threat of physical harm against a group of individuals and is likely illegal. The patron has violated rule 1. The threat should be reported to the police.