Driver ‘forcefully’ removes parent from school bus after conflict in Tacoma, police say
Three officers responded to a conflict between a school bus driver and a parent in Tacoma at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, according to Tacoma Police.
“The bus driver was admonishing the students for poor behavior and the parent was concerned and demanded to be allowed onto the bus,” Tacoma Police Det. William Muse told The News Tribune via email. “The bus driver, who has an obligation to protect the students, tried to explain the circumstances to the parent who forced their way onto the bus. The driver had to forcefully remove the parent from the bus.”
The incident occurred in the 5700 block of South Orchard Street. No one was arrested and no students were injured, according to Muse. The investigation is ongoing.
Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Kathryn McCarthy told The News Tribune that the school bus driver involved was from the district’s private school bus contractor, First Student, and wasn’t a district employee. However, the district is supporting both investigations by First Student into the driver’s behavior and by the Tacoma Police Department into the incident.
The bus driver will no longer drive Tacoma Public Schools students, according to McCarthy.
“We are reviewing the incident closely and working diligently to address all the issues presented as quickly as possible,” McCarthy wrote.
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 1:22 PM.
