Bus Driver Accused of Inappropriately Touching Port Students

Port Washington authorities are investigating claims that a school bus driver inappropriately touched students on his route, Police Chief Richard Thomas said Tuesday.

Thomas said the driver has not been arrested and no charges have been filed, but he said police are interviewing students at and who rode the bus with the driver. Thomas said he could not give details on the complaints because it is an ongoing investigation.

One parent of a high school student told Patch that after other students complained about the driver, his son also reported being inappropriately touched by the driver more than once.

"The kids would give him high fives, and he would touch them on the butt and thighs," the dad said.

The dad said his son told him the driver had been touching male students in this manner since last school year and that the actions continued into the new year.

The driver, who has been placed on leave pending the police investigation, works for the Johnson Company, which provides bus services to all Port Washington public schools, according to Joyce Buchholz, the manager of Johnson's Port Washington office.

Buchholz said she became aware of the allegations on Oct. 13, when the company received a phone call from a parent.

Thomas said the department began its investigation when the situation "was brought to our attention by students."