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NY Bus Driver Fired for Rescuing Detectives During Violent Hail Storm

Aug. 9, 2011 10:26am Billy Hallowell

Long Island Bus Driver George Daw Fired for Helping Police During Storm What did a Long Island bus driver receive after he helped three police officers who were stranded during a fierce hail storm? A pink slip, naturally.

George Daw, a school bus driver, lost his job Monday after he “rescued” the officers and then transported them to safety. The incident unfolded during a violent storm last week. WCBS-TV has more:

Daw snapped pictures as a near-monsoon moved through New Hyde Park. Traffic was stopped, cars were submerged and drivers panicked.

Daw finally freed his yellow SUV school bus — with his one single child passenger aboard — amid sudden cries for help from three Nassau County police detectives.

Long Island Bus Driver George Daw Fired for Helping Police During Storm

So, he responded to their calls for help. Rather than receiving the accolades he expected for his efforts, the driver was let go for violating company policy. Part of the problem may have been rooted in the fact that he was transporting a child during the incident. His notice of termination read, in part:

“Employee endangered welfare of student he was transporting when he picked up three unauthorized passengers.”…“Employee made decision to drive through large body of water.”

In an interview with WCBS-TV, the former bus driver got emotional:

“Do I leave these three police officers, due to company policy? I didn’t even second guess it. I told the child to jump in the back, these people are coming on board. I had to get them.”

Watch a WNBC-TV interview with Daw, below, for more:

While Daw is now unemployed, he claims he wouldn’t hesitate to help the police again if he found himself in a same situation. At least one detective related to the squad has apologized for any of the negative consequences that resulted from the incident.

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Comments (212)

cher128
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:49am
Yet another shove by the all encroaching, all-suffocating hand of big government.
Is this any different, really, from children being treated as criminal and fined several thousand dollar by local government for not having “papers” for their lemonade stands or, babies and grandmas groped by TSA agents, or, red light cameras all over our roadways to track your every move?????
WE MUST TAKE BACK OUR FREEDOM FROM THE GOVERNMENT BEAST!

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- OutragedToo
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:12am
  So, he gets fired by a private company for breaking company rules, and you see “Yet another shove by the all encroaching, all-suffocating hand of big government”? Do paranoid much?
  
  Report this comment
- patriotone
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:24am
  A private company that functions under a bureaucracy, funded by taxpayers yet still subject to lawsuits, etc. They have rules and do not want other drivers breaking them so they needed to let this guy go as an example. If they were sued by the child’s parents, for whatever reason they can think of, they would have to pay legal defense fees, etc., the cost of which would be passed on to the School District that pays them. Maybe he should have radioed in and asked permission first, then when they say no he can feel he did the right thing in asking.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:33am
  I wasn’t paranoid until this administration, but probably it’s been coming on for a while. It’s like how to cook a frog. If you put him in hot water, he’ll jump out. If you put him in cool water and heat it up, he’ll be dead before he realizes he’s cooking. Obama was my hot water, shame he wasn’t for everyone else.
  
  Report this comment
- HairOfTheDogSob
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:35am
  union vs union…I love it…total dipsticks
  
  Report this comment
- USAMama
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:10pm
  Patriot1:
  
  Had he radioed in and they said no do you suggest he just throw his hands up in the air and say “Sorry guys, boss says no” and leave them there? I couldn’t do that, I would have done just what he did. The problem is with all these tight rules and fear of fines and lawsuits it makes it hard for people to use their own judgement in a situation and do what is right.
  
  Report this comment
- mikelivi
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:19pm
  We have lost our minds in this country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!?
  
  Report this comment
- My Two Cents
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:20pm
  Stupidity run amuck. The administrators are the ones who should be fired.
  
  Report this comment
- thomasdaddy
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:24pm
  usamama,
  “The problem is with all these tight rules and fear of fines and lawsuits it makes it hard for people to use their own judgement in a situation and do what is right.”
  
  The issue here is the fact that these drivers can not be asked to make a judgment when the welfare of a child is in question. Do I think he should have been fired? Absolutely not. Maybe a formal reprimand, with a hand shakes and pat on the back on the way out, but not termination. If no action was taken against this driver then we are telling the other drivers to use their best judgment and that can’t be trusted!
  
  Report this comment
- 8jrts
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:58pm
  @USAMama
  thomasdaddy is right, we (school bus drivers) are NOT allowed to make judgement calls when it concerns the putting the safety of the kids at risk, and by the time we call in to ask, then dispatch calls district to ask, then they decide and get back to us…. in this particular case the cops would have drown already!!! So he didn’t call at all. He still may get sued…I hope not, I think he did the right thing, but that is my opinion, district not policy. Besides….this was NY we are talking about…could have been fake badges….anyone consider that????
  
  Report this comment
- ATTA
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 1:06pm
  I wonder if he had picked up 3 black people, if he would have been fired?
  
  Jesse Jackson would have jumped on his horse…… and the Rev …
  
  Report this comment
- ConstitutionalPatriot
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 1:41pm
  If this is a ‘private’ company then Outraged is correct, But many of these large city School bus ‘companies’ are actually ‘public’ companies. If it is a ‘public’ company then he should file a grievance with the city.
  
  Let’s see Nassau county… Parents will find out who’s child it was and law suit will be filed, as the Cre’ole chief once said; “I gaau ron tee that”
  
  Report this comment
- Servant Of YHVH
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 2:39pm
  Perhaps these people that fired him should be kept watch of by the detectives.
  
  Report this comment
- woodyb
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 2:45pm
  @ USAMAMA –
  “makes it hard for people to use their own judgement in a situation and do what is right.”
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  That’s the whole idea, we have to get used to the government (sometimes through its contractors) making all of our decisions for us!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- kindling
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 5:43pm
  God bless this man and his family for his service to others.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:45am
  @OutragedToo
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:12am
  So, he gets fired by a private company for breaking company rules, and you see “Yet another shove by the all encroaching, all-suffocating hand of big government”? Do paranoid much?
  ***
  Didn’t I read NYC school bus driver? Might be a “private Company” but contracted to a government entity! Definitely he should have been ricognized for his heroism! Don’t know about big government, but the rules make sense most of the time, but in emergencies, one has to be able to respond to such!
  
  Report this comment
- freedomisvital
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 4:09am
  Agreed. Past time to put our collective foot down and take back our country from these idiots.
  
  Report this comment
- danlb0y
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:51pm
  No good deed go’s unpunished!
  Trans group is an unsafe transportation company. You are better off not be associated with this progressive company. Any company that go’s out of it’s way to fire a good man like you has serious problems with critical thinking. They exposed themselves to the media by their actions and they have made it clear that coming to a fellow humans aid is violation of their twisted world view.
  
  Report this comment
- Jaycen
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:54pm
  Cher128, you’re absolutely correct. Rules and regulations have replaced brains for many bureaucrats.
  
  This was a case where a man used common sense. His actions should be lauded. His supervisors acted stupidly. They should re-instate the man.
  
  Report this comment
- Jaycen
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:57pm
  Mr. Daw did the right thing. To the person who said, “Could have been fake badges…” so, assume everyone could be evil? That’s Liberal mindset, buddy.
  
  Daw used good judgement. You don’t punish someone for using good judgement. At no point was the child’s safety in danger. It’s that simple.
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on August 11, 2011 at 9:37am
  .
  Think about it.
  “people are freaking out”
  “Hailstorm, flood.”
  So the three NY detectives………..saved themselves and ran????
  “To hell with those people, it’s SCARY out there, thanks pal.”
  
  Driver fired and ONE of the three called to say, “sorry”?
  Yep, that‘s what I’d expect from NY.
  
  In Texas, the driver would have rescued everyone, the cops would help,
  and the company would have thrown a barbecue.
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on August 11, 2011 at 9:41am
  .
  Atta:
  “I wonder if he had picked up 3 black people, if he would have been fired?”
  or three muslims…………he would have received the key to the city!
  
  Report this comment
desertjim
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:49am
Our great bureaucracy’s in action! I can’t wait until these same bureaucracy’s run our health care.

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- GayDem4Beck
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:08am
  @desertjim – I can see it now.. I’m sorry, but you are not covered, because you were transported by the wrong ambulance company, or to the wrong hospital. Even worse, a boy-scout/girl-scout giving aid was not certified to do so, so your being denied.
  
  Report this comment
- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:22pm
  BUT!!!!!! WE do NOT have to lie down and take it. WE can elect the people who will do away with this childish one-note-thinking. WE can elect REAL WOMEN AND MEN and this fumbling, bumbling stupid insanity attack that has put our precious country in a strangle hold (OBAMA CARE, THIS nonsense about rules and Unions and everything NON-HUMAN) …all of this insane nonsense will be swept out by REAL AMERICANS who understand what AMERICA is. SARAH PALIN for PRESIDENT!!
  
  Report this comment
- ICEDRAGONNITE
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 8:52pm
  I want more unions, unions, unions, then nothing will get done total Communism. Then this nation will be exactly where the lefty’s want us, broke and under their total benevolent, caring, soothing, all knowing, elitist control. WE HAVE ALL GONE NUTS IF ANYTHING ABOUT THIS GUY GETTING FIRED IS OK, AND WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET.
  
  Report this comment
Konacow
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:45am
The school distriict should terminate their contact with the bus company until he receives his job back with back pay and a raise. Or start a complete inspection of all their vehicles for violations, that should take care of the problem.

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- OutragedToo
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:16am
  Wouldn’t that be “Yet another shove by the all encroaching, all-suffocating hand of big government”?
  
  Report this comment
- leary1
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:47am
  I agree, human life and public officials are to precious to ignore. if he had ignored the cries for help, would he then be accused of not doing his civil duties to help others ?? I request that the state discontinue business with trans co., as they only really care about money and rules over human life in jeopardy.!!
  
  Report this comment
I.Gaspar
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:44am
In obamaland, this is what you get for doing the right thing.
You help someone in need…you get fired.
You voice dissatisfaction with a government out of control…you are demonized and falsely blamed.
If he gets reelected, we’ll probably start seeing Tea Party rehabilitation centers in the Arizona desert.
15 more months of this crap…We have to vote them all out.

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- mikem1969
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:58am
  You are so right, but the whole thing about re-education camps or evacuation camps is no joke, look up rex84 and you will get an idea of just what is planned for the masses.
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:13am
  This is becoming all too common: punishment for people who commit acts of kindness or bravery.
  When the wrong-doing is exposed, they change their view, so as not to be embarrassed. What about those, who did good, but were too small to be noticed? I hope there are more of those kind of people than the bus companies of the world.
  
  Report this comment
- WestTexasCountryBoy
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:09pm
  Just did a search on REX84 (used Bing, don’t use google since they got into bed with obummer) and that is some scary stuff. I have hoped all along that we could make it to the 2012 election without declaration of martial law and did not even know about rex84. This is why we have a second amendment and why obummer hates guns and bibles.
  God Bless
  
  Help stomp out political correctness, Truth will do.
  
  Report this comment
nysparkie
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:43am
Bureaucrats, you s u c k. This guy acted in a decent manner for some cops. What is wrong with you
I D I O T S. Dip Wads.

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jessieH
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:43am
To bad he wasn’t a teacher or a union worker. They can never be fired, no matter how inept they are.

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- encinom
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:09am
  Lets walk back you statement, if he was a union member, he could not be fired for this becasue, he would have some measure of protection from the inept management.
  
  Report this comment
GreatGu
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:42am
You are all correct; what this man did is heroic and honorable. Let the Bureaucrats be Damned, and may some outstanding institution that has an ounce of dignity left in them bring this man on board at a better salary than was provided by the self serving non-community supporting company that fired him.

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jnobfan
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:42am
No race card to play he’s toast

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wifezilla
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:41am
No good deed goes unpunished, eh? The company that fired him obviously doesn’t deserve to have a helpful, wonderful man like this on their payroll. They need a “by the book” mouth breather. Surely a company with some brain power will hire George ASAP

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- adennya
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 3:22pm
  I’ll predict that the manager who decided to fire this guy will be Obama’s School Bus Czar by Monday.
  
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TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:41am
You know this will change within 3 hours or so…Way to go, Daw!

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ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:41am
Its great to be an American today after reading this!

Sorry guys I can’t come over there and help you its against policy and I’ll lose my job. I hope you make it I really do. Bye Bye. He is a better American for doing what he did and the lesson was impressed upon the kid that the system cannot be bucked or else. The cops are greatful but this is of no help. this was an extreme situation which involved life and death of the officers so the mayor should step in and reinstate this man with awards from the city for thinking outside the box.

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IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:41am
Well done, Mr. Daws. God is so proud and you will be rewarded someday. Don’t change I or someone else may be in need of help someday

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rightwingheroes
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:40am
the parasite gets 99 weeks and gobment cheese, the good samaritan gets fired for helping police officers who would give their life to protect him. This backwards country is doomed if we don’t reverse course.

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:39am
Once again we see good deeds being punished; and the bad get away with whatever they can without fear or penalty.

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BlackAce41
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:39am
This is what happens when you have some one that is a victim of the Government Run School Systems.

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- encinom
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:10am
  Private school bus comapny. This is what happens when private companies are not held in check by employee unions.
  
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- Steel Awesome
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:31am
  Hey, Enema, since the bus company is private, the public can bring their considerable weight down on them to effect some changes. Try doing with with a public entity.
  
  Report this comment
- darkrage000
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:39am
  oh yes, i quite agree encinom, enciinom, moncine, monciine……..
  as you say… ‘Lets walk back you statement’ {i just love educated speech)
  
  The Unions woulda drug this moronout back and beat him right and proper, huh!
  I mean, How DARE he save lives without Union Permission… He cost them political points and excellent Media coverage!
  I mean… AFTER he took his break that is…
  And then there is the issue of it only taking 5 minutes and only 1 person, thus being done quickly and efficiently….
  
  ~
  yes yes.. unions would have been so much better….
  
  Report this comment
Philtac
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:38am
No good deed ever goes unpunished.

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wildturkeywatcher
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:38am
Another great example of the complete lack of COMMON SENSE! I hope Mr. Daw gets a job with a better-run company.

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Docrow
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:37am
Doing what is right at cost to ones self is always honorable and should be praised. Well done Mr Daw!

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ampatriot
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:36am
this man is a true hero

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heavyduty
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:36am
Only in the yankee states will this ever happen. This is getting to be one wild and crazy place to live. Instead of getting a handshake or pat on the back. THEY FIRE HIS BUTT.

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cessna152
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:36am
Right is wrong and wrong is right…

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rienheart
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:34am
He will be rewarded for his saving lives. Count on it.

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greenlee
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:34am
Whoever signed or is part of his termination notice, they are the ones that should be fired. Damn government out of control.

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- 65Mustang
  Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:12am
  With Obama and his gang of czars it will only get worse. Was anyone listening to Glenn?
  
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starman70
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:33am
Company policy be DAMNED! Saving lives should be the main focus here. There will be someone who will recognize his actions for what they truly were and hire him.

I wouldn’t want to be the owner of that bus company, I bet there will be lots of “Violations” found on their equipment.

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- loadingmyclips
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:28am
  …and I know just the guy to find them!! former inspector for PACE .
  
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- CharlesMartel
  Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:58pm
  Anyone who doesn’t throw out the rule book in an emergency should be fired. So should anyone who punishes someone for acting responsibly during an emergency.
  
  I hope the police show their gratitude by writing this company up for every nit picking detail they can find until this company rehires the driver with back pay and an apology.
  
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AlansTigg
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:30am
Hope some great company reads about this and gives him a new job.

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