"I'm not me anymore:" Bus driver, witness to officer-involved shooting says it left her traumatized

BROWN DEER -- For the first time, we are hearing from the bus driver who had a front-row seat to an officer-involved shooting. It happened in March, and the driver is speaking out now, in July, because she says she's been traumatized by the incident.

"I`m not me anymore. I just want to go back to being me," the driver, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Kim said.

Kim, MCTS bus driver

Kim was driving a Milwaukee County Transit System bus on March 14th.

"I had this guy who was on the bus," Kim said.

Kim said the male passenger, later identified as Manuel Burnley, became angry -- calling her names.

"I started getting scared. He was a big guy. I didn`t know what he was up to," Kim said.

Officer-involved shooting near 60th and Donna in Brown Deer

Kim said she flagged down Brown Deer police officers on patrol in the area. One of the officers came onto the bus and asked Burnley to leave.

"He started fighting that lady. He was throwing that lady on the ground and beating up on her. She had to shoot him. From that point on -- I can`t sleep," Kim said.

Burnley was shot in the back, but survived.

Officer-involved shooting near 60th and Donna in Brown Deer

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office is still reviewing the case.

Earlier in July, Burnley's attorneys filed paperwork for a potential lawsuit.

Kim said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She is on paid leave, but said her workers' compensation is not being paid.

Officer-involved shooting near 60th and Donna in Brown Deer

Those with Amalgamated Transit Union Local #998, the bus drivers' union, said other drivers, like a driver named Robert, for example, have the same problem.

Robert, MCTS bus driver

"Just allow me to get the help that I need. Please allow me. Don`t make it difficult for me," Robert said.

A spokesman for MCTS said workers' compensation issues are determined by the employee's doctor, and a county-run firm.

Brendan Conway, MCTS spokesman

"We have 750 drivers. We want them to all be happy and be able to work. If a few aren`t for whatever reason -- that`s OK by us. We want to have a safe workforce," Brendan Conway, MCTS spokesman said.

Brown Deer police declined to comment, but said one of the officers involved in this case returned to duty, while the other remains on administrative duty.

Officer-involved shooting near 60th and Donna in Brown Deer