Henry Beasley

Brothers and Sisters,

I’ve compiled a log of the various incidents of attacks against transit workers in the system for 2018. Going over the verifiable log and compiling them and put them into a list for everyone. The numbers may be off by a few here or there, but here is the list of logged events.  Keep in mind, that these are the ones we know of.


1/3 assault
1/10 menacing w/deadly weapon (streetcar) notable events: co-worker brought up the question of Workman’s Comp after an attack, because they were denied for the first 3 days and received time-loss.
1/19 menacing w/thrown object notable events: informed by co-worker concerning an attack last year and what they thought they received was WC, it turned out that it was taken out of their sick bank so, they lost 3 sick days from their bank
1/21 assault (spitting)
1/26 assault
1/29 menacing w/weapon
2/3 menacing w/thrown object (passenger stepped up to help operator)
2/4 assault (spitting)
2/4 assault notable events: 1/27 shot fired a bus #4 line / since May of 2017 3 cases of stabbings 11/9 on Max, 12/26 on Max, 2/6 on Max
2/11 menacing w/weapon and flammable liquid
2/11 menacing w/thrown object
2/12 assault
2/13 assault (supervisor)
2/15 menacing (riders were not having that, assisted transit worker)
2/16 assault (spitting)
2/17 assault notable events: unwanted touching by a passenger on an operator 2/16
2/20 assault (spitting)
2/21 assault (operator just picked up the bus, and was attacked shortly thereafter)
2/21 assault
2/24 assault (spitting)
2/25 menacing
3/1 assault (spitting)
3/5 menacing
3/5 menacing w/assailant who threw up prior to getting the operators face
3/10 assault
3/12 assault (spitting)
3/14 menacing
3/14 menacing
3/18 assault w/weapon – bottle was thrown and struck transit worker in the head
3/27 assault (spitting) notable events: a shot fired at a bus 3/31
4/1 assault
4/8 assault (spitting) notable events: remembering your options in the CBA
4/11 assault (spitting) notable events: a shot fired and hit bus on 4/10
4/27 assault
5/1 assault
5/4 assault
5/7 assault notable events: shots fired at bus on 5/5, 5/13
5/14 assault (spitting)
5/18 assault (spitting) notable events: shots fired hitting district vehicle on 5/18
5/31 assault (rail)
6/2 assault (supervisor)
6/5 assault w/thrown object
6/7 menacing w/possible firearm
6/13 menacing notable events: diminished capacity is a real condition
6/15 assault (a bad one)
6/15 menacing
6/16 menacing
6/16 menacing
6/19 assault w/thrown object
6/29 menacing w/physical contact
7/6 assault
7/5 assault
7/8 menacing (the “drill guy”)
7/11 assault
7/15 menacing w/thrown liquid
7/17 assault (attempted sexual assault) notable events:  minutes matter!
7/24 assault w/weapon – pepper spray notable events: the question of code of conduct where to draw the line?
7/25 assault (spitting)
8/1 menacing (spat at, hitting pants)
8/5 assault (attempted sexual assault)
8/8 assault (spitting) notable events: please fill out police reports, they do make a difference
8/11 assault (supervisor) a bad one
8/14 menacing w/weapon
8/21 assault (spitting)
8/24 menacing
8/26 menacing w/thrown object
8/26 menacing
8/29 assault w/thrown object that contacted the face
8/31 assault (rail spitting)
9/8 menacing
9/9 menacing (possible weapon involved)
9/10 assault
9/15 menacing w/thrown object
9/17 menacing w/weapon
9/18 menacing
9/18 assault (spitting)
9/19 assault
9/21 menacing
9/25 assault (rail)
9/27 menacing (thrown liquid)
9/30 assault (spitting)
10/1 assault (supervisor)
10/1 assault (rail)
10/2 menacing (thrown liquid)
10/3 assault/menacing (spitting)
10/8 menacing
10/8 menacing notable events: shot fired a bus on 10/6
10/9 assault
10/11 menacing
10/12 menacing
10/12 menacing notable events, we need a zero-tolerance policy out in the field HR policy’s need to extend beyond garages
10/14 assault (spitting)
10/16 menacing notable events:  repeat offenders get a free pass to re-offend)
10/16 menacing
10/17 assault Paratransit division (choked) notable events: bus shootings 10/6, 10/19, 10/21
10/17 menacing
10/19 assault (spitting)
10/22 menacing
11/5 assault
11/13 assault (spitting, the assailant has HIV (was caught a week later) the operator feared for their lives, thankfully there are preventative measure. notable events: shots fired 10/30
11/16 menacing
11/21 assault (spitting) w/visible weapon
11/23 menacing w/physical contact
11/24 assault
11/25 menacing
11/28 menacing (supervisor) w/visible weapon
12/2 menacing
12/2 menacing
12/4 assault (blue on blue) Notable events: shots fired at bus this time #71
12/13 assault (paratransit division)
12/17 menacing
12/18 assault
12/19 menacing (supervisor)
12/21 assault Notable events:  Co-worker stepped up and prevented further conflict between the assailant and co-worker

Total incidents against transit workers: 114 ("that we know of")

2010 – 34 publicly reported
2011 – 38 publicly reported
2012 – 37 publicly reported
2013 – 29 publicly reported ((for 2011-2013) https://katu.com/news/local/man-arrested-in-brutal-attack-of-trimet-bus-driver)
2014 – 28 publicly reported
2015 – 41 publicly reported ((for 2014-2015) https://katu.com/news/local/crime-against-trimet-employees-nearly-doubled-in-2015)
2016 – 62 Where we took notice ((for 2016) https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/gateway-transit-center-hotspot-for-trimet-crime-in-2016/283-459718853)
2017 – 93 Were we recorded the number and types of incidents of attacks.
2018 – 114 Were we recorded the number and types of incidents of attacks.

Notable events:
Shots fired at transit vehicles:  11 (routes effected: 4,6,71,73)
2 attempted sexual assaults.
21 incidents of weapons and thrown objects (which will get around the barriers purchased).
The question needs to be asked on frequent offenders getting a free pass to re-offend.

It is time for collective action to raise awareness of the disastrous treatment of transit workers.

Be vigilant be safe and always communicate.

Henry Beasley
Your Brother on the front lines
UNION STRONG