WDBJ Made Vester Flanagan Seek Counseling During His Employment

WDBJ Made Vester Flanagan Seek Counseling During His Employment

WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey Marks revealed the station made shooter Vester Flanagan seek mandatory counseling and help while he was a reporter at the station.

“We made it mandatory that he seek help from our employee assistance program–many companies have them–they provide counseling and other services,” Marks said, adding Flanagan complied with the mandatory request, going to get help at least once (he didn’t specify whether that help was counseling or not).

Marks said Flanagan was ultimately terminated for “behavior and performance issues.”

The president and general manager of the station also defended the slain journalists, reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward against Flanagan’s claims of discrimination.

“No reasonable person would have taken any of the cited instances as discrimination or harassment,” he said. “I saw the way he behaved,” Marks continued, defending his staffers against the late shooter’s claims.

Marks said in two-and-a-half years since his termination, station employees reported they ran into Flanagan around town, but never had any altercations.