BNSF News

Officer on the Train Event at the Port of Los Angeles Means a Busy Day for Law Enforcement

2009-10-01

The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) at the Port of Los Angeles became center stage for an Officer on the Train event recently as newly trained officers put their training into action.

BNSF Resource Protection participated in this joint agency enforcement with the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Federal Railroad Administration, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office and Los Angeles Port Police. A total of 32 officers participated in the enforcement effort.

"This event was one of our busier ones," said Scott Rust, senior special agent, Resource Protection, who helped organize the event. "Many of the Los Angeles Port Police have attended a Grade Crossing Collision Investigation class and were ready to put what they learned in action."

Keith Miller, superintendent, Operations, at Watson Yard, provided a newer locomotive to help build the famous Southern California "rainbow trains." The rainbow train consisted of BNSF, Pacific Harbor Line and Metrolink locomotives, as well as a Metrolink passenger car.

After about four hours, the law enforcement agencies garnered the following:

• Two trespasser arrests
• 156 vehicle citations
• Eight impounded cars
• 285 total contacts, including warnings

"This definitely reinforces safety for the public and crews," Miller said. "This area is one of the busiest in the nation with train and vehicular traffic. It is a welcome sight to see so many law enforcement agencies working together to educate the community on rail safety."

Reports of Unsafe Motorists and Trespassers (RUMTs) submitted helped in the efforts to organize this event. Resource Protection and Field Safety Support use the RUMTs when they contact violators and organize educational events. The RUMTs are also provided to state agencies to use when they evaluate crossings for grade crossing improvements.

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