Had to lay a verbal smackdown on someone today

Doesn't feel good to do it, but I hope I did the right thing.

I work in a hospital. I get in the elevator going down to the ER, and there's this man who's obviously angry and upset, speaking loudly to this woman who's standing by the door. He goes on about she's been a junkie for seven years or so. After a pause, where I think he's going to lay off for a bit, he lays into her again about how she's selling herself for drug money. Also in the elevator are three nurses, and they're all real quiet.

The woman in question is now in tears, and the guy is still going off. He's civil, but he's quite loud. I've had enough. I turn to him and say, "Is there a problem here?" He responds without skipping a beat, "Yeah, there's a big problem here." I show my badge, raise my hand, and look into his eyes: "Silence." He shuts up.

The door opens out to the ER. As the two of them file out, I say, "Take it outside. Don't keep it in here." He raises his hand slowly as he passes me and says "Hush." And that's it. They head toward the exit, but he's a bit quieter now.

Whatever that woman may have done, there's no call for that guy to berate her in a closed space with no escape - especially with other people listening. He may be a good man who's simply frustrated and angry. But I couldn't abide that. Not when I saw her tears.

So, did I do anything wrong? Or was I justified in stepping in? I need some feedback from you guys. Thanks.

without pissing someone off, I say WAY TO GO!! I would have trouble listening to a man berate a woman in that situation. Nice Job!

While I agree with you on the time/place thing, if he was at all justified in talking to her like that in private, I hope this served as a wake-up call.

Even if that woman was his wife, no matter what the deal is, exposing her dirty laundry to a captive audience like that is really bad form.

When my wife and I have the occasional argument as all couples do, we try to be respectful of each other's privacy. No sense in burdening anyone else with our troubles unless they're actually in a position to help us. And I think the two of us do just fine.

I hope that woman can sober up and stop putting herself through all that. But that guy can help by being a positive, if somewhat stern, influence on her life.