Bus drivers gone wild

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” That’s how I used to justify incredibly flawed behavior when I was in middle school. Actually, now that I think about it, many times I knew it was a bad idea at the time – and did it anyway. That’s sorta goes with the territory when you’re 13 or 14. 

But when you’re an adult, you should not still be clinging to your seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time mantra, especially when you’re a front-line employee for a public agency. Specifically, I’m referring to two bus operators who threw good judgment out the window while they were behind the wheel.

On Feb. 28, 38-year-old Shawn Brim, a bus operator for Metro in Washington, D.C., exited his bus and allegedly punched an off-duty police officer who was dressed in a McGruff the Crime Dog costume. Brim said he did it to be funny, but probably found it less funny when police officers stopped his bus and arrested him a few minutes later. And even less funny, if that’s possible, when his employer fired him.

Not to be outdone by the hilarious Brim, a 54-year-old bus operator in Halifax, Nova Scotia, jumped out of his bus last Saturday and clubbed a fake baby seal that was part of an anti-sealing demonstration. He was not charged by police, but could face disciplinary measures by his employer, Metro Transit. My prediction: He’ll meet the same unfunny fate as the McGruff basher.

I have to admit, there is a certain zaniness to the actions of these bus operators. If Brim’s antics were part of a “Saturday Night Live” skit, you might be tempted to laugh out loud or at least chuckle appreciatively. McGruff the Crime Dog being assaulted in the middle of a lecture to young people? It’s definitely ironic. Now, clubbing a baby seal is not ever funny, but it was a fake baby seal. OK, that’s still not funny.

In any case, these weren’t skits. The bus operators took these disrespectful actions while they were on the job in front of customers and the general public.Their impulsiveness damaged the reputation of their peers and the public transportation industry as a whole.

Until next time.

Steve

Update: On March 16, Metro Transit suspended the bus operator who allegedly clubbed the fake baby seal pending an investigation.

Comments

[Jenniferwhatnot]

I've never seen a fake baby seal who didn't deserve a good clubbing, on-duty or off.