BNSF News

Joint Operation Yields Citations, Warnings in Illinois

2009-10-19

BNSF recently joined with the Macomb, Ill., police and Illinois State Police in a joint Officer on the Train and trespasser abatement operation resulting in 14 citations, six warnings and four arrests.

Jerry Dale, senior special agent, along with Gene Talley, special agent, and Field Safety Support's Jeff Schmid, manager, and Darin Denisar, coordinator, were part of the operation. Assistant State's Attorney Nigel Graham also participated for a first-hand view of the operation; Graham is expected to prosecute cases resulting from the operation.

Many of the citations were issued for drivers driving around the lowered crossing gates or driving through before the gates were fully raised. Pedestrians were also cited for walking across the tracks at locations other than designated crossings.

Schmid said the point of the exercise was not just to issue citations, but to raise awareness of grade-crossing laws and to encourage compliance with those laws.

Adherence to grade-crossing laws in Macomb is better than it was in the past, Schmid said, but law enforcement continues to work toward raising community awareness.

Other BNSF employees involved with the operation were Paul McVey, superintendent of Operations; Elmer Sadlowsky, trainmaster; Mike McKelvey, road foreman of engines; Ryan Adams and Dustin Foster, claim agents; and Mark Nichols, inspector.

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