Florida Farm Bureau adjuster, Katie Froeschle, age 25 ,was murdered in Tampa,FL on November 12, 2004 while inspecting a loss by the tenant who is now serving life in prison. Forensic Files investigated this and is re running the story "Muffled Cries" on 9/22/07 at 6:30pm ET. She was beaten over the head with a motorcycle muffler pipe and her partially clothed body was found dumped in the Hillsborough River.

This story came up again as her family was running a Fundraiser in Tampa, FL this past week for a memorial fund they sponsor in her honor.

We ran a blog on Field Adjuster Safety on this with links to all of the 2004 stories you can access on the CADO blog page here:

http://www.catadjuster.org/Home/Blogs.aspx

( Dimechimes Blog in lower lefthand corner) if you wish to also read the links to the news articles from 2004 on this horrific story. There is a link with the information to send donations to their tribute fundraiser in the blog article titled "Field Adjuster Safety- Remembering Katie Froeschle.

We are posting this in hopes many will read these articles and heed the warnings for safety precautions needed for preservation of life for all adjusters working in dangerous neighborhoods. It is such a very sad story that no one wants to see repeated.

Here is a link to the Forensic Files show schedule:

http://www.courttv.com/schedule/index.html?tempDate=6&nextWeek=yes

Here is a link to a forum thread on story also;  http://www.catadjuster.org/forum/tm.asp?m=5224

Guess I'll have to weight in here, again.

The adjuster was sent to a location which was not within her comfort level. The occupant was a renter, the owner was the insured and should have been there for the inspection, and the adjuster should have been apprised of this by the carrier. (Perhaps this happened, and perhaps not).

The fact that the adjuster was taken from us, with out the simplest of protection to herself, (or it could have been himself) speaks volumes.

We are sent to inspect some of the most difficult of all areas, and we are not permitted to have in our possession any form of personal protection. We are supposed to follow the rules and regulations of the employers and cannot carry any pepper spray,mace, shock stick, knife ,or heaven forbid a lethal weapon, even if we are a licensed carrier.

It would appear that the people that set the rules are those that have no concept of what is possible in any given situation. There are many things that can maim , disable or incapacitate an aggressor. A simple playing card, an individual trained in the marshal arts, a professional fighter, an armed forces or law enforcement trained person.

BUT, have all the adjusters been trained in how to handle potentially life treating situation, NO,NO and NO.   

We are expected to put our lives on the line as well as the lives of our families we would leave behind with absolutely no thought on the part of the people sending you in.

This reminds me of the 90 day wonder second Louie's that ordered 50 guys to "take that hill" when they know that there were 25,000 enemy troops holding it. Stupid is as stupid does.

There has to be a middle ground.Rules must be written, followed and enforced.

1) Do not inspect a property that you are not comfortable doing.

2) Call the property Owner and make absolutely sure they will be in attendance for the inspection.

3) Call in for backup, (just like the cops do) if the area or the loss appears unsafe. Have the file returned if there is no one available to assist.

All this has been posted before on CADO, and the rules and regs have not changed. No one needs a dead hero.

R.D.,
Few and far between is the vendor or carrier that will "send in back up"....you still have idiot supervisors that want photos of hurricane/wind damage taken looking down from the ridge....no matter how steep.......Face it, not many give a hoot about the adjuster's safety........many give lip service...and that is it....try turning back some files to a vendor with a reason as unsafe...whether that be a roof/area or whatever...and see what happens.........
I firmly believe that you must be able to protect yourself....whether that be in public or at home.......If you think that when you dial 911 from your home that the cops are going to save you when the bad guys are banging on the door, YOU ARE DREAMING.....
If you think that dialing 911 from a property because of hostility and that the cops are going to save you....YOU ARE DREAMING......GOD HELPS THOSE THAT HELPS THEMSELVES.......... Remeber, GOD MADE ALL MEN......SAM COLT MADE THEM EQUAL

Period.

Joe Lombardo Jr.

I have been subject to a company man edict of a shot looking down from the ridge and showing the street like many other have.  Some day in the future this idiot rule will cost some carrier a pretty penny.

I won't go into any detail, but having a weapon with me while working Hurricane Andrew, literally and probably, saved me. The man I worked for had no problem in our wanting to protect ourselves. The vendors, nor companies will allow any type of protection, as it may hurt their reputation, etc. The first time an adjuster loses his or her life, due to this rule, a lawsuit against the vendor and carrier should be immediately filed. Perhaps some of the execs who make these decisions should go out with us to work claims in bad areas. I have had a concealed weapon license for many years. I was a private investigator many years ago, and always carried a concealed weapon, wouldn't leave home without it. Of course I had intense training for the use of weaponry. Someone without experience or training can get themselves in trouble quick. I see nothing wrong with carrying Mace, or a stun gun, particularily the lady adjusters. Not all of us were fortunate enough to have learned in the marshal arts. I was fortunate enough to have had this training, but there are times, that training is useless. You cannot outrun a bullet. Anyone carrying a weapon should get a conceal license and learn how to use the weapon. Hopefully, those who need to change this rule will wake up. I will abide by the rules, but I sure don't like it.

I watched the story last night on Forensic Files. If it had been me, I probably wouldn't have done the inspection. The whole situation just sounded horrible.

On the gun.... I was shocked after I got my license that the carriers and vendors dont want you to carry a gun. You are in strange areas with people you know nothing about. I think if you are going to carry one you should be required to take gun safety and shooting range lessons at the very least but it's ridiculous not to allow Adjusters to carry one at all.

Since I'm from Texas I know how to shoot anyway. I promise I won't miss my target.

And it doesn't really matter where you are from.  Been a number of years ago in Omaha, where the crime rate is pretty low compared to most.  Had a reported water/vandalism loss in a vacant home via a Calif carrier.  Got there, and couldn't open the lock box # because the door was boarded over.  Did a walk-round, and saw a rear stairway with the door propped open so thought "what the heck, I'll go in there".  Got in 2 steps with my flashlight beaming, and saw needles, empty shell casings, etc., on the floor and was back down that rear stairs quicker than you can say pass the peas. But, I did take a few photos and emailed them to the carrier.  This was, needless to say, in the seedy part of town.  But again, Omaha, so not your murder capital of the world. 

Called the carrier to inform them of the situation, and they told me to go back anyway.  They wouldn't authorize any kind of security or back-up, so I refused to go back.  The firm I worked for held no sympathy for me either...they viewed it as not upholding a committment to a client.  A client that our branch handled few claims for, and a client whose self-mandated fee schedule was not worth squat.  It didn't bother me that the client had no concern...it did bother me that my own employer could care less.