5 unanswered questions about Target’s alleged firing of an employee for reporting a suspected shoplifter

Dallas Northington, 29, was a plain-clothes security officer at Target in Leesburg, Va. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

(The latest: Police say they will seek charges against shoplifter in Target case)

The claims by Dallas Northington that he was fired by Target for reporting a shoplifter, after working in security for the company for eight years, has attracted significant outrage.

Dear @Target: Is it company policy to give a free pass to cops (and their family members) who shoplift? http://t.co/P6GNJZoIVO

— Alison Johnson (@Prof_Alison) July 14, 2014

@washingtonpost #Target, first credit card security, then guns in stores and now firing employees. More reasons to avoid #Target stores

— Mayor McClinton (@mayor_mcclinton) July 14, 2014

Target security officer fired after reporting shoplifting http://t.co/Up1dq2EyTI via @washingtonpost THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

— ג''וסלין ジョセリン (@Just_Here_4Food) July 14, 2014

Let me get this straight, to safely shop at @Target I'll either have to pay in cash or have a police officer shoplift for me?

— Dustin Fedie (@dlfedie) July 14, 2014

the person doing his job gets punished for doing the right thing and the one in law enforcement breaking the law goes unscathed? @Target

— Sting (@maijinsting) July 14, 2014

Some believe his firing may have been related to the suspected shoplifter, who Northington said was a Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputy. Here are some unanswered questions about the case:

1) Target told Northington he did not follow proper procedure in contacting the Leesburg police. What is that procedure?

2) Target has a close working relationship with law enforcement. Did that affect their actions? Target sponsored National Police Week in the District this year and contracts with the Minneapolis Police Department to assist with surveillance video analysis.

3 ) Since Virginia is an “at will” employment state, what options does Northington have now?

4 ) What is known about the suspected shoplifter and why would either Target or the Leesburg police want to protect him?

5)  Many commenters and Tweets reflect outrage towards Target. Will they reverse course?

As I get answers to these questions, I’ll follow up with further posts. Stay tuned. And for the original story, click here.