Attacked! Again

Deke's Note: We are family: Operators, Mechanics, Dispatchers, Supervisors, Station Agents, Trainers. We may squabble a bit, but when violence happens on our system, we pull together. I just wish those entrusted with running the joint had the same mentality.

A good friend of mine was threatened by a passenger last week. One of the sweetest, most-kind people, this operator simply informed the man he needed to exit the bus at the end of the line. He took exception.

Another passenger warned her the man had a switchblade, and this made her shrink back in a defensive position.

"My only thought was, 'I'm gonna die!' " she recalled. "I pulled my knees up to my chest, thinking if he stabbed me in the arms or legs I would live. If he got me in the chest I would die."

The man reached around the barrier and threatened her. "I would have kicked him if he had tried to stab me." That was her only defense, except attempting to escape through the narrow operator-side window. She has done this before when threatened.

She pushed the "Police" button on the CAD and said Dispatch/Supervisor response was quick and supportive, but her attacker vanished. When he left, the operator ran back to her follower's bus to take refuge in case he came back. Police told her the man matched the description of someone who had threatened operators on different lines the past few days. A repeat offender.

Afterward, the operator had three choices: continue in service, take a "TDA (Turn Down Assignment)" or use her sick leave. To continue her shift meant she would have been operating with diminished capacity, unable to concentrate because that event would constantly be replaying in her mind. Unfortunately, many do this. I have, and it's not a good idea.

She decided to press charges, but if the guy is caught and charged, his defense attorney will likely use a ploy that continues to weigh heavily against the victims: numerous delays. If an operator has to miss work because of court dates, we have to use leave hours. An operator shows up for the court appearance only to find it has been delayed. If we miss too much work, our employer penalizes us. Instead of supporting its victimized work force, this corporate-led "punishment first" mentality does anything but make us feel like the "heroes" those stupid signs say we are.

When was the last time one of the transit agency's attorneys appeared in court to argue for its employee/victim? I don't remember seeing our GM at a fellow operator's funeral earlier this year. At least her Manager was there, a former bus operator herself, mourning with us.

Do the upper crust even care? It appears not, given its failure to honor us in contract negotiations or be true partners in transit. This "Us vs. Them" mentality needs to stop.

You would think a transit agency would be extremely tough on those who attack, menace, and threaten us just for doing our jobs. Instead, they fail us when we need support the most. This is disgusting, but evidently okay with the listless "Bored" of Directors who just nod and agree with nearly everything the "Leadership Team" does.

I guess we're only good employees, dead or alive, when we're "in the seat". Didn't do Thomas Dunn of Tampa, FL much good. He died in his seat in May of 2019 after having his throat slashed while operating his bus. To his credit, he pulled his bus to the curb and secured it before he bled out in the seat. Operator Dunn gave his passengers, even his murderer, his final drop of blood to ensure their safety. At least he didn't break the number one rule we learn in training: don't damage the equipment.

Damaging the operator seems to be okay, though. I'm just relieved our sister lived to tell the tale.