The Ice Scraper Threat

One of the many reasons I would never want to be a Metro Transit driver...

Ice Scraper Threat Puts Driver In The Hot Seat

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: October 17, 2009 - 8:07 AM

When confronted with unruly passengers, Metro Transit bus drivers don't have many choices. They can't swear. They can't fight back. They can't even get out of their seats. But for decades, they've kept one tool by their side year-round as a deterrent to would-be attackers -- their trusty ice scraper.

Drivers say they need the scrapers to scare off passengers who might try to start a confrontation. Metro Transit says one of those confrontations has caused them to rethink whether scrapers should be kept on board.

Driver Paul Kiefner, a 15-year veteran with Metro Transit, was fired in March after he threatened a combative passenger with his ice scraper. The passenger grabbed Kiefner's glasses, poked him in the eye and threw the glasses on the dashboard as he ran off the bus.

Kiefner said he didn't see the passenger return his glasses, so he charged off the bus to get them back. He raised his scraper in defense as the passenger tackled and punched him. The incident cost Kiefner his job and earned him a disorderly conduct charge. His attacker, who has a long list of criminal convictions, subsequently landed in the county jail on an unrelated charge.

A state arbitrator, in a decision made public this week, overturned the firing. He ordered Kiefner's punishment to be reduced to a 10-day unpaid suspension, comparable to the punishments for three drivers involved in similar incidents, including a driver who tackled a passenger during an altercation and another driver who chased a passenger for six blocks.

Michelle Sommers, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, said most bus drivers do not use their ice scraper as a weapon when they are threatened, but she supports keeping them on board.

"You're an easy target," she said. "You're sitting in a seat. You can't defend yourself."

Metro Transit spokesman Bob Gibbons said Kiefner showed poor judgment.

"Bus operators are expected to use the power of their voice, the power of persuasion and the radio telephone to call for help,'' Gibbons said.

Violence escalates quickly

Kiefner, 57, has been hit and spit on several times during his career. On March 9, he was driving his route through downtown Minneapolis around 3 p.m. when a man walked in front of the bus and waved his arms.

Kiefner said he couldn't stop in the middle of the road, so he let the man on a block away. Right away, the passenger began making abusive comments.

"I knew he was looking for a problem," Kiefner said Friday. "You go to work every day and you have to worry about somebody punching you or spitting on you for nothing other than doing your job."

Kiefner has completed training and is allowed to carry pepper spray on his route. He showed it to the passenger, who said that he would need more than that for protection, according to the arbitrator's ruling.

When the man got off about 45 minutes later, he started calling Kiefner derogatory names. Kiefner responded angrily, threatening to beat him if he didn't shut up. Then he picked up his industrial-sized ice scraper, adding he wouldn't hesitate to use it.

After reviewing a videotape of the incident, Metro Transit officials became convinced that Kiefner was too aggressive. They thought he jumped off bus to retaliate, and that he was swinging his scraper in a threatening manner.

Kiefner said that because of previous problems on the job, including washing his bus without management approval, he was subject to strict employment conditions that allow Metro Transit to fire him for lying on the job. Managers used that power in this case, claiming he was lying when he said he got off the bus to retrieve his glasses.

The arbitrator disagreed, finding no proof Kiefner was lying.

Kiefner is expecting to return to work in early November. He received back pay minus the 10-day unpaid suspension, and he'll have to go through a day of retraining. He is still facing the disorderly conduct charge, but he says he feels vindicated by the arbitrator's ruling

Gibbons said the company is working on a policy related to ice scrapers, including whether the scrapers should be kept on buses year round. The current model features a hardwood handle with a 5-inch blade.

"It's a hefty instrument," Gibbons said. "Maybe there's something that can scrape ice that doesn't need to be so bulky and intimidating."

www.startribune.com

Big Hair In The Animal Kingdom

Prince Charming sent me this picture this morning. It's actually an angora rabbit. I thought it was some sort of overgrown cat.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/9-weirdest-looking-animal_n_317907.html?slidenumber=5#slide_image

Snowy Monday

The first snow actually did materialize this morning. It was a veritable winter wonderland outside. We had to scrape the Neon (and by we, I mean Prince Charming...I was busy taking pics with my cell phone and texting them to people).

This was the earliest snowfall I've ever seen in my life. In fact, it even beats Erie.

It makes me wonder what kind of winter we're going to have.

Photo: www.kare11.com

The First Snow

It snowed this morning and the temperature was only 34 degrees at noon. I love it! Prince Charming and I just watched the 10PM news and our favorite meteorologist, Sven Sundgaard of KARE-11, told us that we MIGHT be included in a winter storm watch that is being issued for Monday. Regardless, we WILL be getting more snow on Monday. So much snow that the AM and PM rush are going to be slow going.

It's the second earliest recorded snowfall in Twin Cities history.

And I think it rocks.

King Of The Road

My new boots really hurt my feet while we were shopping at the Mall of America tonight, so Prince Charming went and got the car while I hobbled out to the nearest entrance (the Prince is such a gentleman). I sat down on a bench and I heard a "sppllffttt" sound. I turned around, and saw that the guy behind me was wearing a red jacket that said KING OF THE ROAD. While turned around, I heard the King rip another huge fart. After farting he kind of chuckled a bit. I went outside and waited for the Prince to pull up in the Neon.

Bedazzled In Nordstrom Rack

Prince Charming and I ventured to the Mall of America today, and while hunting for business casual, I overheard this verbal gem:

"I really like this shirt, but it's all bedazzled and shit."

100K and Turning 10

The Neon hit a milestone on our honeymoon. It turned 100K miles! This coming year it will turn 10. It's such a good little car. Other than a motherboard issue when it was still under warranty, I have never had a major problem with it. Yeah, stuff like the multi-function stick and getting the gap between the window and molding resealed has needed done, but it usually doesn't cost me that much. People always bash Neons, but damn, mine is awesome.

Here's to another 100K and another 10 years.

In other news, we donated Prince Charming's PimpMobile to Goodwill for a tax deduction. 250K miles. It will be missed, kind of.