Passenger Assault
February 26, 2025
Re: Operator Assault & Collision Metro Operators,
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at approximately 7:44 PM, a Metro Operator was assaulted by a passenger. This assault resulted in the operator losing control of their bus and colliding with a building at Milwaukee & Dempsey. No serious physical injuries were sustained by the operator or the passengers on board.
Following the collision, the alleged assailant fled the scene. The operator was medically evaluated by Madison Fire at the scene and is on paid administrative leave to recover from the incident.
As of the time of writing, the suspect in this case is still at large. Madison Police is extremely supportive of Metro and is actively searching for the subject. The assault of a public transit worker is a felony. While we are unsure of how charges may play out, Metro Transit and Teamsters Local 120 will work closely with law enforcement to ensure the assailant is brought to justice.
Situations such as this are not only traumatic for the involved operator and the passengers on board, but for the operators continuing to put in the work, day in and day out as well. The City of Madison and IBT Local 120 is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all operators, especially following an attack such as this.
Representatives from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be available in the Ingersoll driver’s room on Thursday, February 27, 2025, during peak pull out times in the morning and afternoon. We recognize that this may not catch everyone who wishes to speak with these representatives; employees may speak with the City’s EAP at any time at 608-266-6561 or an external EAP at 1-800-236-7905. Teamsters members have access to the Teamsters Service Bureau which offer individual counseling and other assistive services following critical incidents. They may be accessed by calling 612-676-3700 or by emailing family@mntsb.org.
Should you need any additional information or have any questions, please contact a union representative or supervisor. The Teamsters and Metro will work closely to bring this situation to a close and will share updates as they become available.
Sincerely,
Bryan Mulrooney, Chief Operating Officer, Metro Transit
Rick Roeth, Business Agent, International Brotherhood of the Teamsters Local 120