For Immediate Release 

Thursday April 4, 2002

Recognizing the Eyes and Ears of Our Community

Ottawa - James Miles is OC Transpo’s 2001 TRANSECURE Employee of the Year.  He received the award this morning for his role in rescuing two missing children. 

On the evening of October 28, operator James Miles heard a general broadcast on his bus radio.  Police were looking for missing children who had been abducted the previous night.  At approximately 8:50 p.m. that evening, Jim watched three teenage girls board his bus at Bayshore station with two very young children.  The first two girls were each carrying a child and the last girl boarded alone.  Jim became suspicious of the girls when he noticed that they matched the descriptions of the alleged abductors. 

 “It was near the end of my shift at this point,” said Jim, “and it was just by chance that the girls should board my bus on the second night the children were missing.”

 Jim called the OC Transpo Control Centre for assistance and kept driving along route 166 in order not to raise suspicion.  Seven police cruisers intercepted the bus at Morrison Drive.  Transit supervisors, along with Transit Law Enforcement Officers, also converged on the bus to assist other passengers.

 “These OC Transpo employees serve as ambassadors to our city.  Their concern for the safety of our residents make them key contributors to the quality of life in Ottawa,” said Mayor Bob Chiarelli. 

“James went beyond the call of duty by recognizing the alleged abductors and trusting his instincts, ” said Transportation and Transit Chair Madeleine Meilleur.  “We are very proud of him and all operators who contribute to the safety of our community by participating in TRANSECURE, OC Transpo’s neighborhood watch program on wheels.”

 Since the TRANSECURE program’s inception in October 1989, OC Transpo employees have logged almost 9,000 TRANSECURE calls. Nearly 300 calls were recorded in 2001.