In 2004, 41 Employees Reported Security Violations

What do a Texas conductor, an Arizona train crew, and two Havre , Mont. , carmen all have in common? The answer: each helped to increase security around BNSF property in 2004, and for their actions they received a 2004 On Guard recognition.

Last year, 41 BNSF employees reported security violations to the Resource Protection Solutions Team (RPST).

In its second year of existence, the On Guard program grew to almost twice the number of recognitions and launched a suggestions program in which employees are encouraged to provide security ideas. In the On Guard program, about three-fourths of recipients are Transportation and Engineering employees in the field.

"Security has become everyone’s business. Because of heightened security status, Americans are being asked to be the ‘eyes and ears’ for law enforcement," says John Clark, assistant vice president, Resource Protection Solutions Team. "At BNSF, Resource Protection Solutions continues to educate employees on work, personal and home security, as well as working to change employee behavior to become more aware of security risks and breakdowns. As part of this effort, employees are being asked to report suspicious persons or acts across the BNSF system."

Here are a few examples of employees who received On Guard recognition in 2004:

• Conductor Bill Stein in Sweetwater , Texas , observed a vehicle stuck on BNSF's mainline. Two teenaged girls who were seeking a shortcut to another road were driving the vehicle. He alerted dispatching and the RPST. Immediately following his reporting, two other vehicles became stuck on the tracks as they tried to assist the first vehicle.
• Conductor P.J. Gleason, Freight Engineer C.T. Cirino, and Conductor M.T. Schutt, reported to the RPST two girls sitting on the mainline in Hackberry, Ariz. Also responding to the scene was Road Foreman of Engines Mike Kirkwood, Signal Maintainer Kent Duhaime, and Superintendent Larry Kreger. The girls refused to leave until BNSF's Senior Special Agent Mike Field and the Sheriff's department showed up. As it turned out, one girl had an outstanding warrant, and the other was taken in for observation.

"The quick reporting by the train crew and response by Kent, Larry and Mike, ended what could have been a very tragic incident," says Senior Special Agent Nicholas Archuleta, Belen, N.M. "The fact that they took the time to respond shows their commitment to the safety of not only BNSF employees, but to that of the general public."

• Carmen Karl Jarvis and Ryan Harber of Havre , Mont. , reported a small bag sitting on top of a catwalk on the end of a stack car. The bag, which had a large amount of blood on it, was reported to the local RPST officers. It was later determined that the bag belonged to a body found near the tracks. Apparently, the subject had been riding on the train.

"Without the alertness of the carmen, locating the bag on the car, and finding the cause of death of the subject, this investigation could have been bogged down with unanswered questions," says Special Agent Tom Anderson, Havre.

Examples of "On Guard" behavior include reporting security violations; checking someone's identification, such as official credentials; preventing "tailgating" through secured doors or areas; going beyond the job to check security of trains, loads or facilities; reporting trespassers; and reporting crimes in progress on BNSF property. Employees should report all suspicious activities, individuals and trespassers to (1-800) 832-5452.

For more information on the On Guard program, go to the Resource Protection Intranet site and click Protection Solutions. Or go directly to: http://www.bnsf.com/resourceprotection/html/on_guard.html.