“I believed I was protecting the bank.”
Jordan nodded slowly.
“Let's discuss that belief.”
Her attorney leaned forward.
Jordan continued.
“Mr. Coleman provided a Pennsylvania driver's license?”
“Yes.”
“A passport?”
“Yes.”
“Company incorporation records?”
“Yes.”
“An acquisition announcement?”
“Yes.”
“Supporting business documentation?”
“Yes.”
“Did you find that any of those documents were false?”
“I had concerns about their authenticity.”
“Were any proven false?”
“No.”
“And when Mr. Coleman offered contact information for the issuing company, did you use it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to follow our internal procedures.”
Jordan picked up a copy of the policy.
“Please identify the part of your procedures instructing you not to contact the issuing company.”
Sarah looked down.
Silence.
“Miss Winters?”
“I don't know that there's a specific prohibition.”
“Then what prevented you from making the call?”
She hesitated.
“I was handling a difficult situation.”
Jordan leaned forward.
“What made the situation difficult?”
“The customer was challenging my judgment.”
“By asking you to verify his check?”
“By questioning my authority.”
Jordan waited.
Sarah realized how the answer sounded.
She looked toward the commissioners.
“I was trying to maintain control of the interaction.”
Jordan nodded.
“Control.”
He let the word sit there.
“Let's discuss the check itself.”
Sarah's hands tightened.
“Did you tear it?”
“Yes.”
“Once?”
“Twice.”
“Did you then throw the pieces toward Mr. Coleman?”
She looked down.
“Yes.”
“Was that action required by bank policy?”
“No.”
“Permitted by bank policy?”
“I don't know.”
“Had you ever received training instructing you to destroy a customer's check because you suspected fraud?”
“No.”
“Did Mr. Coleman threaten you before you did it?”
“No.”
“Did he physically interfere with you?”
“No.”
“Did he attempt to enter a restricted area?”
“No.”
“Did he refuse to provide identification?”
“No.”
Jordan paused.
“Then why did you tear his check?”
Sarah stared at the table.
For the first time, she appeared to search for an answer rather than repeat one.
“I was frustrated.”
The room became completely still.
Jordan looked at her.
“Frustrated with what?”
“He continued questioning my decisions.”
“And you destroyed his property because you were frustrated?”
Her attorney objected to the phrasing.
Commissioner Williams allowed Jordan to reframe the question.
He did.
“Would you agree that your personal frustration influenced your decision?”
Sarah swallowed.
“Yes.”
It was the first meaningful admission of the morning.
Jordan gave her a moment.
Then introduced the internal training material.
“Miss Winters, do you recognize this document?”
She studied it.
“Yes.”
“Did you receive training using this version of the customer risk assessment protocol?”
“Yes.”
“Please turn to page twenty-three.”
She turned the page.
Jordan waited.
“Read the section heading.”
Her voice became quieter.
“Unlikely Customer Profiles.”
“What does that mean?”
“Transactions that do not appear consistent with the customer's expected financial circumstances.”