Woman claiming verbal assault by Waukesha Metro Transit bus driver
WAUKESHA (WITI) -- Getting around the city of Waukesha involves public transportation or two feet for Melinda Slick -- but since August 23rd, riding has become more complicated. This, after Slick says she was verbally assaulted by a Waukesha Metro Transit bus driver.
"This is the first time I've ever had an incident like this," Slick said.
The words spoken by a Waukesha bus driver were captured by surveillance camera.
"She told me 'as long as you're short, fat and white, you will not speak to me like that again,'" Slick said.
Slick says the verbal jabs continue to sting.
"Completely speechless. I didn't know what to say. As soon as I stepped off the bus, I lost it. The tears just started flowing. I have struggled with my weight my whole entire life. I've been bullied and picked on all through school because of it," Slick said.
Slick says it all started when she got on the bus, and asked the driver to turn off the air conditioning. When the driver refused, Slick said she asked again.
The driver, who is African-American, eventually turned the A/C off, but when Slick tried to get off the bus, words were exchanged.
"I definitely feel race played a huge issue in it. If that would have been a white bus driver that made a comment like that to an African-American, they would have been fired," Slick said.
In a statement, the city of Waukesha said: "There is no excuse for that behavior. Although this was an isolated incident, the city is taking this very seriously."
The company who employs the driver said they couldn't comment, but added Veolia Transportation "will provide refresher customer service training."
That kind of discipline isn't enough for Slick, who fears she will run into the driver on other buses. She says she feels there could be retaliation if she runs into the driver, and wants her fired.
"They did inform me she would be off of this route, but she would be able to drive other routes. She should not be able to drive buses anymore," Slick said.