Henry Beasley

On 8/9/17 we had another menacing attack against a transit worker.  In this situation, the worker felt the fear for their safety and the police was called.  Thankfully they were not hurt in the incident.

Unfortunately, this adds to the ever-growing aggression towards transit worker in the transit district. #53 this year while we are almost at 100% of last year’s total of 55.

In watching the Board of Director’s meeting where the district gave out crime statistics and used the term, “intimidation” when describing attacks against transit workers.  We should question just what is considered “intimidation,” that the company uses as a category.


https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.155
(1) A person commits the crime of intimidation in the second degree if the person:
(a) Tampers or interferes with property, having no right to do so nor reasonable ground to believe that the person has such right, with the intent to cause substantial inconvenience to another because of the person’s perception of the other’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability or national origin;
(b) Intentionally subjects another to offensive physical contact because of the person’s perception of the other’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability or national origin; or
(c) Intentionally, because of the person’s perception of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability or national origin of another or of a member of the other’s family, subjects the other person to alarm by threatening:
(A) To inflict serious physical injury upon or to commit a felony affecting the other person, or a member of the person’s family; or
(B) To cause substantial damage to the property of the other person or of a member of the other person’s family.
(2) Intimidation in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

Looking at the statute, it seems to have nothing to do with transit workers. To add this as a crime against transit workers is not accurate.  We will continue to count menacing incidents as a more accurate statistic than intimidation.

Be vigilant, be safe and always communicate

UNION STRONG