Woodbridge taxicab driver Kashif Bashir, charged with shooting Alexandria police officer Peter Laboy in the head Wednesday in Old Town, had undergone a routine background check to drive a cab and was apparently approved despite a long list of convictions for traffic offenses.
Bashir, 27, drove for Alexandria Yellow Cab. On Friday, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg told Patch she wants to know what it takes for a cab driver to fail a background check.
“I would support having a requirement of a background check,” Silberberg told Patch. “First, I would like to know what standards, policies and procedures are in place. Is there a standard background check for all cab drivers? Was there a background check not completed on the alleged shooter?”
Alexandria police spokesman Jody Donaldson said the department’s Hack Unit conducts routine background checks on taxicab drivers in the city. The checks are performed when a driver applies for a license and then every two years, Donaldson said.
The department also keeps track of complaints against cab drivers, Donaldson said. He did not know of any complaints against Bashir.
“They have a right to suspend the license if there are too many complaints and problems, but because he was still actively licensed, I think it’s safe to say there didn’t appear to be any complaints,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson said the checks look at criminal and traffic offenses.
Yellow Cab General Manager Kyle Summers told Patch on Friday that Bashir had passed a background check and that he believed his most recent license renewal was in late 2012.
Summers said drivers with mutiple traffic offenses sometimes take driving training classes in order to remain licensed, but he did not know if Bashir had taken part in those classes.
Laboy remains hospitalized at Medstar Washington Hospital Center.
Previous Charges Against Bashir
Alexandria Convictions:
- Failure to obey a traffic signal, 2007
Alexandria Dismissed:
- Inspection violation
- Speeding, 2009
- Failure to pay attention, 2012
- Failure to obey a highway sign, 2012
Fairfax County Convictions:
- Tampering with a vehicle, 2011
- Speeding in a school zone, 2004
- Safety belt violation, 2004
- Failure to obey a highway sign, 2005
- Failure to yield right-of-way, 2005
- Safety belt violation, 2005
- Tinted or smoked windshield, 2005
- Failure to obey a highway sign, 2006
- Three counts of tinted or smoked windshield, 2006
- Improperly mounted license plate, 2006
- Operating an uninspected vehicle, 2006
- Defective equipment, 2006
- Speeding, 2007
- Failure to wear seat belt, 2007
- Failure to pay full time and attention, 2010
- Speeding, 2011
- Failure to obey a traffic signal, 2013
Fairfax County Dismissed:
- Violation of good behavior on a misdemeanor offense
- Improper exhaust system
- Tinted or smoked windshield
- Illegal sale of unapproved equipment
Fairfax County Not Prosecuted:
- Misdemeanor assault
Read more:
'Remarkable' Officer Laboy Is Alive Following Shooting
Donations Accepted for Wounded Alexandria Police Officer
Son of a Cop on the Alexandria Police Shooting: ‘Officer' Laboy Is Also ‘Dad’
Former Alexandria Police Chief: Laboy a 'Fun Guy and Real Caring Individual'
