Friday, December 4, 2009

Train driver may lose job because of crazy guy

From the NY Post:

A train driver who subdued a crazed man threatening other passengers could bizarrely lose her job for "gross misconduct," The Post has learned.

On Oct. 22, Adeline Bayne-Goody, a 56-year-old subway motorwoman with more than 20 years on the job, held down lunatic Jason Atkinson at the 78th Street station on the No. 1 line until police arrived.

But the next day officials told her she had committed "gross misconduct" and should lose her job for leaving her post, according to MTA documents.

Atkinson, 38, starting berating passengers in the first car of a southbound train at the 86th Street station at 10:40 a.m., documents show.

When the train arrived at 79th Street, Atkinson began pounding on the window of Goody's driver's cab, according to MTA documents.

When she opened the door, Atkinson allegedly unleashed a tirade of racial epithets, spit on her and punched her on the chin, documents state.

When Atkinson tried to flee, the feisty Goody tackled him, sources said.


Why don't they pick on these guys instead?

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

If she did nothing,the ta would have fired for that too.The transit authority is the most adverserial employer in the tri-state area!

Anonymous said...

The problem with liberal society today, is if you defend yourself as a victim or even become a hero, you lose big time. The defendant has more rights to insure their protection. This servers a lesson to all of us - do nothing or do not react if you are attacted or if someone else is being pummelled!

However I do suggest this hero sue the daylights of the MTA and NYC for her grave exposure to the nut, being beaten physically and sufferring mentally because of this. She probably saved others from being hurt or even killed. This woman is a hero!

Taxpayer said...

Anonymous # 2 is exactly right.

Put me on the jury.

Anonymous said...

I will NEVER intervene with anyone for reasons like this. If I see a women getting raped that's her problem. I'm not going to restrain/subdue the rapist and then be charged with some type of violation of the rapists civil rights.

It's everyman for himself these days.

Ms. Take said...

They're not picking on those lazy track repair GUYS who were caught doing nothing but they're picking on a WOMAN employee who felt she was protecting the passengers and was just doing her job!!

Klink Cannoli said...

Anon #1 hit the mark, I think. The MTA isn't known to be a benevolent employer. Also consider at 20 years, she commands a relatively fat salary, 5 years short of collecting a full pension, may have prior reprimands, may even have a medical condition (obesity and its related diseases are a common condition for a certain race of Conductors)... an expensive employee to keep.

Interesting that she only came out of the cab when she was under direct threat, not when her passengers were. But I'd withhold judgement until more of the facts are known.

As for the Trackmen, that's more of a forman employee utilization and scheduling issue, not a laziness issue.

Anonymous said...

Yup, that's America (or MTA) - reward the lazy, punish the hardworking.

That woman should get a Dept of Labor attorney to sue the MTA and NYC for their stupidity with all the reasons and examples stated by those anonymous commenters above.

Maybe that's why there was a news where a woman was raped in the subway after she ran to an MTA employee in the booth notifying that MTA bastard whom just treated as if nothing happened. They should fire that MTA employee for not doing anything to ensure public safety.

The system is flawed. They don't have the brains and are lazy to improve the system. You do what you see monkey do. They are all monkeys. They will justify it's always been done that way for years. Well, the world was known to be flat for years.. so that's why the world is still flat.. in their eyes. stupid people in mta.

Anonymous said...

Actually...as posted on trains and buses...assaulting an MTA employee is punishable by 7 years in prison!

All they have to do is check out the platform camera video at the time of the incident.

Anonymous said...

Question:

What if that mad man attack was a diversion by terrorists to get the train operator to leave her post...
the "Taking of Pelham 123" secnario ?

They've got a point there.

Perhaps just holding the train with closed doors and summoning a transit cop by radi

I don't know.

JO said...

"
I will NEVER intervene with anyone for reasons like this. If I see a women getting raped that's her problem. I'm not going to restrain/subdue the rapist and then be charged with some type of violation of the rapists civil rights.

It's everyman for himself these days."

- This is a big problem. I would be embarrassed if my child said this.

Anonymous said...

My guess is its a union issue. The unions get pissy when anyone does anything that is not specifically written in their agreed upon contracts. Even so much as picking up a piece of trash can get you a reprimand if its not in your job description.

Anonymous said...

Behold the absurdity of this city at its fullest. It's all about human rights and political corectness these days. If you defend yourself against one of the many creeps this f* city is full of, you risk losing your job or getting sued for violating the attacker's rights. I am sick of what this city is coming to.

(Apparently being a nutjob beats being black on the PC scale of "protected groups")

Anonymous said...

"Taking of Pelham 123" scenario?"

Seriously, Seriously?

Since that movie original came out in the mid-1970's (by the way a must see) there has never been an high-jacking of a NYC transit train.
They are punishing good moral behavior and rewarding stupid scheduling of track workers typical MTA think. And they wonder why we don't believe them when the whine about imaginary budget gaps.

Common Sense dictates that they should pin a metal the motorman and fire the person who came up the idiotic schedule for track work. But when did the MTA ever display common sense.

Anonymous said...

"The problem with liberal society today" & Anon #3, is that she abandoned her post. In this case a passenger train with customers on board. She broke the law and must pay the price. What if U S soldiers went after every individual guy that shoots at him? The system would break down into pure mayhem. If everyone doing what ever they want, whenever, and that's the world you want, then call it 'conservative society.' I call it kindergarten.

Anonymous said...

The story is never that black and white, right? I guess the facts will emerge.

Anonymous said...

if she was "aware" of the disturbance prior to the psycho banging on her cab door--why the hell didn't she radio for help ?
and did she shut down her train ?
or leave it all wide open ?
that's the problem,not that she simply subdued the guy.

Anonymous said...

When the motorman is attacked, they have the right to defend themselves and hold their attacker until the police arrive.

Anonymous said...

Arm all the passengers and we won't have these problems.

Anonymous said...

"When the motorman is attacked, they have the right to defend themselves and hold their attacker until the police arrive." Really, and if she lost the fight and the crazy guy took the train and the passengers for a ride? She had a responsibility to her passengers, her train, and the City of New York. She should be dismissed and lose her pension. The problem with many people today in America is its all about their own personal emotions, ie teabaggers, fetus worshipers, NOM, DOMA, Birthers, Global Climate Coalition, Information Council on the Environment (ICE), the list is endless.

Queens Crapper said...

How do you know the door to her cab was not locked therefore preventing anyone from taking the train for a ride? You don't. The fact of the matter is nothing like what you mention happened and this incident is being blown way out of proportion. If she put so many people in danger by reacting as many human beings would have, then may this incident help shape the training the drivers need instead of being used to punish a crime victim.

Queens Crapper said...

Furthermore, it sounds like this incident happened on the train after she opened the door to the cab. So how exactly did she abandon her post?

Anonymous said...

Maspeth Mom says....

I am sure she has a good laywer that will help her get re-instated. I also hope she pounded that little garbage head piss-ant punk good. Bashed his damn cruller into that diry urine soaked subway floor. Maybe she taught him lessons his mother never did. Good for her - she is a hero in my book.

Anonymous said...

"Furthermore, it sounds like this incident happened on the train after she opened the door to the cab. So how exactly did she abandon her post?"
Come on QC. She left her train with passengers on board. Even if the cab door locked behind her the crazy guy could have taken the key off of her and took the train. She reacted contrary to her training, or lack of training. She screwed up big time. As a subway rider I need to know that the train I ride is secure from all intruders, crazy or premeditated. PS
I liked the guy who's comment wished for everyone to be packing heat. He probably doesn't even ride the train. Or maybe he's Bernie Goetz.

Queens Crapper said...

Where does it say she left the train?

Anonymous said...

No everyone shouldn't pack heat, they could kill other passengers. But I am thinking of carrying a large hammer for just such an occasion.

I used to have a pen that looked like a large orange railroad spike and it was very helpful in keeping dangerous people away from me.

Anonymous said...

How is it the motorman that kept the train locked down with a murdererin the car with passengers is a hero and this motorman is wrong?

Anonymous said...

Maspeth Mom says...

The 2nd paragraph of the article says the train was in the station when she subdued the attacker. She never left the train. I think she did the right thing leave the cab and face him outside her work area. What would have happened if she let him in and he grabbed the controls??

Anonymous said...

Well, they crucified Bernhard Goetz for defending himself against 4 thugs. Meanwhile, one of the lil angels raped a pregnant 18 year old and another was prosecuted for purjury.

Oh, well, I suppose if they cut out your heart with a rusty knife and eat it with a spoon, you will get some sympathy.

After you are dead of course.