Are we really proud of the George Daw precedent?
The New York state bus driver was fired Monday because he "endangered welfare of student he was transporting when he picked up three unauthorized passengers," according to the Educational Bus Company on Long Island. But as transgressive as that statement makes Daw's actions sound, what in fact happened was what would commonly described as either an act of heroism or at the least a good Samaritan in action. What Daw in fact did was rescue three police officers who were stranded amid a hail storm on August 1.
"I felt this was something anyone would do under the circumstances," said Daw, 58, according to an NBC News report. The incident in question took place in New Hyde Park, located just south of the Long Island Expressway. The passengers in Daw's bus included a teenager and a bus matron. As he passed through the park, Daw noticed the unmarked police car flooding with three passengers inside.
"They're saying, you've got to help us, you've got to help us," Daw told NBC. "You've got to get us to the third precinct. We're police officers."
So he took their cue, and brought the officers to their precinct. By the time he returned to his headquarters in Copiague, located in Long Island's Nassau County.
Laws protecting good Samaritans can come in a variety of forms. New York state passed in July a version that prohibited arresting someone on drug possession charge if that person was contacting police in the event of helping a victim of overdose. Most commonly, the laws protect bystanders who come to the aid of an emergency but run the risk of contributing to injuries or a wrongful death. Indeed, New York is one state that has such a protective statue for licensed dentists, physicians, nurses, physicians and physical therapists.
But in a case like Daw's, the decision ultimately rests with his employer. He says he is hoping to be reinstated, but holds out little hope. When approached for comment about the incident by CBS News, Educational Bus had no comment.
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By Dan Fastenberg
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