Heroic cashier fired after helping catch robber

News of corporate stupidity rarely shocks me, but this insensitive, silly, and stupid case does: The Associated Press coverage of the incident involving Tesoro (NYSE: TSO) pretty much sums it up:

LODI, Calif. -- A gas station cashier who was held up on the job and helped track down the robber has been fired.

The company that owns the station said Cynthia Lopez lost her job because her cash drawer was $16 over its $50 limit.

If you've recovered from the panic attack you just suffered as a result of this shocking news, consider the explanation given by the company's spokesperson: "We do have policies on cash limits in registers to protect our employees' safety. We have a zero-tolerance policy."

So an employee's safety was jeopardized over $16? It's a good thing it wasn't $27 or it could have started World War 3. This woman, who was threatened by a masked robber at gunpoint, had the presence of mind to jot down the license plate number of the getaway car, and note the man's clothing.

If you're as disgusted by this case of corporate stupidity as I am, send an e-mail to the company, and let's try to help Cynthia Lopez get her job back.