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Metrobus driver arrested while on duty

Metrobus headquarters at Freshwater Road. Telegram file photo

Metrobus headquarters at Freshwater Road. Telegram file photo

Published on August 26, 2009
Published on July 1, 2010
Staff ~ The Telegram  RSS Feed

Metrobus has confirmed that one of its drivers was arrested while on duty this morning at the Village Mall.

Police apparently took the driver off the bus between 6:30 and 6:45 this morning.
Judy Powell, manager of the bus service, told The Telegram that she has no details as to why the driver was arrested at this time.


Powell did say the driver was hired this spring and is still a probationary employee.
She was quick to point out that all drivers undergo criminal background, driver record and reference checks when they are hired which was done in this case.


"This came as a surprise to us," said Powell.
Powell said service on the bus the man was scheduled to drive was delayed by about 15 minutes.

Comments

  • Username
    Kris
    - July 2, 2010 at 15:05:32

    This came as a surprise to us, said Powell.

    There is an unusual paranoia running rampant in this province. You can't even get a job digging ditches without a criminal record check, and as we know this only proves that someone hasn't been convicted of a crime, it doesn't actually speak to the character or motivations of the person in question. There are honest good people out there who found themselves in bad situations for which they now have a criminal record.

    Granted that it's ones own responsibility to make sure they avoid situations that could turn pear shaped in such a fashion as to bring them in to conflict with the laws of the land but everybody makes mistakes. I'm not talking about rape or child-abuse, or murder, or serious violent crimes, but some times no matter how far back you try and stand you still wind up with some on you.

    I love how this article demonstrates the unwavering faith in a criminal record check that only serves to discriminate against some people who 9 times out of 10 have been called to task for their actions and have paid the price and are unlikely to travel that road again, and reward those of questionable character who have either not committed a crime yet, or simply haven't been caught. I guarantee you that if a person is predisposed to breaking the law, it is unlikely that a criminal record check will discover this if they haven't been caught. What about young offenders who have their records erased? Theft, violent crime, property crime of all varieties, and no one will ever know, because at 18 they have a clean record.

    It's time to stop discriminating against people who have learned their lesson and paid the price for their actions.
    <

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Merman
    - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:32

    How am I supposed to get home?

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Dave
    - July 2, 2010 at 15:00:01

    Judy Powell you should resign forthwith.Furthers news reveals that this driver has been charged with 4 counts of breach of probatio,among other things..That means......duh,a criminal record.So,do the honorable thing and resign before that foot in your mouth swells up too much.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Never
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:17

    I guess Metro Bus has an opening for a bus driver......any interested parties can apply to Personnel at Metro Bus in the sprawling metropolis of St. John's..please provide the necessary documentation for said position...

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Ryan
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:52:25

    Undergoing criminal background, driver record and reference checks must be a waste of time and money then since it guarantees nothing. Good tools to discriminate people though if you don't want to hire them in the first place for whatever reason.

    I thought I saw a bus weaving all around the road early this morning.....

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Kimmy
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:29

    brian from nl where in this article does it say the driver was charged with dui? A news item a few weeks ago had some guy getting a licence here in NL when he had been prohibited from driving in ON from multiple convictions of DUI up there. This system doesn't work.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Tara
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:01

    People should keep in mind that a letter of conduct only confirms no criminal record up to that point. The arrest could be due to something that occurred after he was hired.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Willie
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:46:58

    I like to have a 'pup' or two on the way to and from work but that don't make me an alcoholic. Lot of people do the same thing and you can see the empty bottles on the NLC parking lot. Some jobs are very stressful and require a little pick me up that's all I'm sayin.

    Willie Hunt
    Pouch Cove NL

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    brian
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:36

    Kimmy - It does not say that and I stated that in my last line. The issue with the DUI in Ontario is one that slipped through the cracks. Up until recently the criminal records check with the RNC was only province wide and not Canada wide. As a HR specialist in the private sector the search is a good tool, as I pointed out to Ryan. The record check does not state the crime, only that the person was convicted of something - the interview process takes care of the rest. Have we hired people with a criminal record? Yes. Have we hired an individual caught impaired in control of a chopper to fly one of ours? No.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    brian
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:16

    Good tools to discriminate people though if you don't want to hire them in the first place for whatever reason

    BS Ryan - a good tool to use if you are considering hiring an individual to drive a metro bus and they have a criminal record of DUI. Not saying that this is the case here.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Stan
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:44:27

    Merman from NL writes: How am I supposed to get home?

    SWIM

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Doesn't
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:41:57

    Kimmy!! If you read Brian's post he wasn't saying the driving was arrested for DUI. He was saying that the background checks are a good idea for Metrobus to do incase someone has a DUI. He even says not saying that this is the case here.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    B.W
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:41:10

    I find something a bit off with regard to the statement made by Metrobus and the charges made against the driver. He was charged with 4 breaches of probation in addition to the other charges and according to the company has only been with them since this spring. There are only 2 explanations for this. Either Metrobus knew he had a criminal record and hired him anyway (in which case their statement was disingenuous and meant nothing) or the man was convicted AFTER his hire, in which case they still had to know about the original arrest.


    Not that it matters to me if he is a convict... I just find it amusing that Metrobus makes a statement to assure us when it's clear that it means nothing.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Nasty
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:55

    Hey Kriss! Did you know that over 55% of the Canadian population has some sort of record. Wonder how the minority like paying to keep the majority on welfare?

    What comes around goes around.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Calvin
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:53

    Hey Kris, you have a point. However, should employers not perform criminal record checks because the person they are interviewing MAY never commit another crime? There is always some deciding factor between applicants for a position, and if you have two candidates with similar education and experience and one of them has been convicted of assault (for example), an employer has the right to use that as a deciding factor concerning employment. Even if it was a one time offence, it still happened ONE time. I know I have been in positions where I wanted to hit someone, but I have never done it. I think employers see it as a representation of someones character if they have never been arrested for DUI or selling ecstacy (again, just examples), and I would not feel any ill will towards a prospective employer if they wouldnt hire me because I had done something like that. There are consequences for any action, and the criminal record check is just another consequence.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Where was
    - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:25

    Guess we need to wait to hear from the horses mouth on this one. Seems odd with the Telegrams office right at the same location this took place that they were not able to provide a little more detail.

    Oh well, let the rumors begin I guess......

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Kris
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:55:39

    This came as a surprise to us, said Powell.

    There is an unusual paranoia running rampant in this province. You can't even get a job digging ditches without a criminal record check, and as we know this only proves that someone hasn't been convicted of a crime, it doesn't actually speak to the character or motivations of the person in question. There are honest good people out there who found themselves in bad situations for which they now have a criminal record.

    Granted that it's ones own responsibility to make sure they avoid situations that could turn pear shaped in such a fashion as to bring them in to conflict with the laws of the land but everybody makes mistakes. I'm not talking about rape or child-abuse, or murder, or serious violent crimes, but some times no matter how far back you try and stand you still wind up with some on you.

    I love how this article demonstrates the unwavering faith in a criminal record check that only serves to discriminate against some people who 9 times out of 10 have been called to task for their actions and have paid the price and are unlikely to travel that road again, and reward those of questionable character who have either not committed a crime yet, or simply haven't been caught. I guarantee you that if a person is predisposed to breaking the law, it is unlikely that a criminal record check will discover this if they haven't been caught. What about young offenders who have their records erased? Theft, violent crime, property crime of all varieties, and no one will ever know, because at 18 they have a clean record.

    It's time to stop discriminating against people who have learned their lesson and paid the price for their actions.
    <

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Merman
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:52

    How am I supposed to get home?

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Dave
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:47:35

    Judy Powell you should resign forthwith.Furthers news reveals that this driver has been charged with 4 counts of breach of probatio,among other things..That means......duh,a criminal record.So,do the honorable thing and resign before that foot in your mouth swells up too much.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Never
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:14

    I guess Metro Bus has an opening for a bus driver......any interested parties can apply to Personnel at Metro Bus in the sprawling metropolis of St. John's..please provide the necessary documentation for said position...

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Ryan
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:36:44

    Undergoing criminal background, driver record and reference checks must be a waste of time and money then since it guarantees nothing. Good tools to discriminate people though if you don't want to hire them in the first place for whatever reason.

    I thought I saw a bus weaving all around the road early this morning.....

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Kimmy
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:33:15

    brian from nl where in this article does it say the driver was charged with dui? A news item a few weeks ago had some guy getting a licence here in NL when he had been prohibited from driving in ON from multiple convictions of DUI up there. This system doesn't work.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Tara
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:32:28

    People should keep in mind that a letter of conduct only confirms no criminal record up to that point. The arrest could be due to something that occurred after he was hired.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Willie
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:27:15

    I like to have a 'pup' or two on the way to and from work but that don't make me an alcoholic. Lot of people do the same thing and you can see the empty bottles on the NLC parking lot. Some jobs are very stressful and require a little pick me up that's all I'm sayin.

    Willie Hunt
    Pouch Cove NL

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    brian
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:25:11

    Kimmy - It does not say that and I stated that in my last line. The issue with the DUI in Ontario is one that slipped through the cracks. Up until recently the criminal records check with the RNC was only province wide and not Canada wide. As a HR specialist in the private sector the search is a good tool, as I pointed out to Ryan. The record check does not state the crime, only that the person was convicted of something - the interview process takes care of the rest. Have we hired people with a criminal record? Yes. Have we hired an individual caught impaired in control of a chopper to fly one of ours? No.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    brian
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:24:40

    Good tools to discriminate people though if you don't want to hire them in the first place for whatever reason

    BS Ryan - a good tool to use if you are considering hiring an individual to drive a metro bus and they have a criminal record of DUI. Not saying that this is the case here.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Stan
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:23:22

    Merman from NL writes: How am I supposed to get home?

    SWIM

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Doesn't
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:18:52

    Kimmy!! If you read Brian's post he wasn't saying the driving was arrested for DUI. He was saying that the background checks are a good idea for Metrobus to do incase someone has a DUI. He even says not saying that this is the case here.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    B.W
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:17:34

    I find something a bit off with regard to the statement made by Metrobus and the charges made against the driver. He was charged with 4 breaches of probation in addition to the other charges and according to the company has only been with them since this spring. There are only 2 explanations for this. Either Metrobus knew he had a criminal record and hired him anyway (in which case their statement was disingenuous and meant nothing) or the man was convicted AFTER his hire, in which case they still had to know about the original arrest.


    Not that it matters to me if he is a convict... I just find it amusing that Metrobus makes a statement to assure us when it's clear that it means nothing.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Nasty
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:56

    Hey Kriss! Did you know that over 55% of the Canadian population has some sort of record. Wonder how the minority like paying to keep the majority on welfare?

    What comes around goes around.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Calvin
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:53

    Hey Kris, you have a point. However, should employers not perform criminal record checks because the person they are interviewing MAY never commit another crime? There is always some deciding factor between applicants for a position, and if you have two candidates with similar education and experience and one of them has been convicted of assault (for example), an employer has the right to use that as a deciding factor concerning employment. Even if it was a one time offence, it still happened ONE time. I know I have been in positions where I wanted to hit someone, but I have never done it. I think employers see it as a representation of someones character if they have never been arrested for DUI or selling ecstacy (again, just examples), and I would not feel any ill will towards a prospective employer if they wouldnt hire me because I had done something like that. There are consequences for any action, and the criminal record check is just another consequence.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Where was
    - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:12

    Guess we need to wait to hear from the horses mouth on this one. Seems odd with the Telegrams office right at the same location this took place that they were not able to provide a little more detail.

    Oh well, let the rumors begin I guess......

    Submit a comment

Submit a comment

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