GENTRY — The Gentry Police Department, cooperating with the police unit of Kansas City Southern Railroad, held a joint operation called Officer on a Train on May 1.

“The operation was to identify and catch motorists who violate state laws regarding railgrade crossings and to bring awareness to the danger of violating rail-grade crossing laws," said Gentry Police Chief Keith Smith. “During the operation, Gentry officers conducted five traffic stops in an hour and a half for violations regarding rail-grade crossings. All drivers were cited for failure to yield at a railroad crossing, as well as other offenses,” Smith said.

“KCS takes its position as a positive corporate citizen very seriously and we are committed to improving public safety in the communities where we operate,” said Allen Pepper, KCS director of public safety. “We are pleased to join forces with local law enforcement to raise awareness about the importance of safety at highway rail-grade crossings and the dangers oftrespassing on railroad rights of way.”

During the Officer on a Train event, law enforcement officers were stationed on a moving KCS train and at nearby crossings, watching for grade crossing violations.

“Our goal with these types of operations is not necessarily to issue citations, even though we take a zero toleranceon these types of offenses,” Smith said. “Our primary goal is to help the public be more aware of the dangers of railgrade crossings. Unfortunately for drivers, we do not issue warnings. Citations are issued when anyone is caught violating,” Smith added.

Officer on a Train is a safetyprogram that brings local, county and state law enforcement officers into the locomotive cab to observe problems at highway-rail grade crossings and to assist enforcement of motor vehicle laws at railroad crossings, according to a KCS press release.

Operation Lifesaver is an international, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroads’ rights of way. To accomplish its mission, Operation Lifesaver promotes education, engineering and enforcement. Operation Lifesaver makes free safety presentations to any group, from child to senior citizen, to encourage safe decisions around railroad tracks and railroad rights-of-way.

“I had numerous citizens ask me what we were doing,” Smith said. “I explained to all of them what and why we were doing this. Most of the personsI spoke with didn't know the laws pertaining to railgrade crossings but were positive in their response to our operation.”

According to Smith, plans are already in the works to repeat the operation at a future date.

About KCS

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., KCS is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. KCS’ North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

News, Pages 1 on 05/09/2012