What's this world coming to? What is wrong with people? That's what I've been wondering and so have many other people around Edmonton for the past few months. It's gotten to the point where I wonder why I even watch the news, read the news paper or listen to the radio. Some days I'd opt to live under a rock.... Here's why.......
Since the beginning of 2010, a few bus drivers have been assaulted by the very people they are driving around the City. One sick and twisted individual had a driver pinned on the ground between the bus he was driving and the curb... This individual beat the driver beyond recognition... We're not talking swollen, bloody and bruised either... We're talking face caved in, multiple surgeries, critical condition kind of beat. No one on the bus did anything about it either, which in my mind makes the story that much more sick. I understand not wanting to face the same fate, but this is one instance where you can butt in and make something that's not your business into your business. (No pun intended at all.)
I know there are bus drivers out there that deserve a reprimand or a good smack up side their head, but it's not our job to do so. It's their discipline board's job to do, so go through the proper channels people! Phone in, file a complaint! No better way to hurt someone than to cost them a couple day suspension without pay... Mean maybe, but it's better than the driver being in critical condition, and you facing assault, if not murder charges.
Maybe 2 weeks ago, I heard the perfect example... A young girl, maybe 18-19 years old, got on the bus with her baby, stroller, and one of her friends. She was fuming mad and visibly shaking with anger. From what I eavesdropped to hear was that the previous bus' driver was a serious idiot. The bus was pretty full but not packed, instead of making people vacate the priority seating near the front, he refused to let her on the bus. When she got on to get his name and badge number, he refused to give her either and closed the doors with her still on the bus and began to drive away... Only problem was, her baby and stroller (and her friend) were still on the curb at the bus stop... From what I gathered, the driver let her off half a block up, closed the doors, literally pointed and laughed then flipped her off. Nice guy hey? The girl's aunt is a bus driver and that's how she knew to get the driver's badge number, and knew he couldn't refuse her. (She had a bus pass and there was room.) She was on the phone filing a formal complaint, that's how I overheard everything... The bus driver of this bus even shook his head and said that what the first driver had done wasn't right.
A couple weeks ago, I caught on the news that an Edmonton City Police Officer was going to trial for assault. Literally the next day, another report showed that there was a second City Police Officer was being looked at for an entirely different assault case.... And these are the people we depend on to keep our City safe.
One of the Officers supposedly punched a guy in the face... The guy getting punched was already in custody when the Assaulting Officer got on scene. The guy was punched in the back seat of a cop car, while in hand cuffs. The second officer shot six or so times at the second victim. The victim was hit at least once in the back. What did the second victim do to warrant being shot at? Stabbed a police dog more than once then took off running, ignoring all commands from Officers to stop. (I'm not sure how that dog is, if he survived or not.) The shooting victim/stabbing assailant recovered from his bullet wound and is currently in custody awaiting his day in court... For both being the perpetrator and the victim.
The following links are in relation to the Police aspect of this post:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2010/03/25/edmonton-steele-charter-rights-charges-stayed.html
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Constable+trial+assault+faces+charges+incident/3607593/story.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2010/10/01/edmonton-patton-officer-assualt.html
It's not always about me; I didn't assault anyone, no one assaulted me... I hope that's the way it stays.
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