‘That could have been me’: CATS workers push for additional safety measures after road rage shooting

Co-workers and loved ones of Ethan Rivera gathered Friday morning at the scene of the road rage shooting that took his life, asking for more safety measures on CATS buses.

As the crowd grew, co-workers and friends were seen holding signs and wearing sweatshirts that said “I am Ethan,” as they spoke out about their worries for their own safety.

Hasson Trent, who has worked for CATS for 15 years, said drivers are often the target of verbal and physical abuse.

“That could have been me, left home and never went back,” said Trent.

Workers like Trent said they are worried Rivera’s death won’t be the last if the city doesn’t act soon.

“What’s it going to take? Four, five, six, seven people to die? We’re not army members; we’re in the transportation business,” said Trent.

CATS workers are asking for additional officers at the transit center in uptown and along their routes.

They are also demanding bulletproof barriers and working phones on every bus.

Nichel Dunlap Thompson is a former CATS employee, but she left to work for the Southern Workers Assembly to advocate full time for people like her and Trent.

“We need to promote the necessary changes so that we can protect the lives we have left that are performing these jobs,” said Thompson.

Even people who don’t sit behind the wheel want to see change.

Rivera’s friend Lenara Snell said Rivera’s death should be a wake-up call for the city, so employees can do their job without fear.

“I still can’t accept it. It’s not real for me. I can’t … seeing him on T-shirts, it’s not right. It will never be OK,” Snell said.

The crowd released balloons in Rivera’s memory, chanting his nickname “Rico Suave.”

CATS told Channel 9 that 176 people did not turn up for work Friday morning, including those out on sick leave and those out in protest.

Earlier this week, the CATS CEO said the city buses do have barriers, but that they are not bulletproof.

CATS also announced retention bonuses for its employees to keep them on staff amid safety concerns.

This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 5:43 PM with the headline "‘That could have been me’: CATS workers push for additional safety measures after road rage shooting."