The International Association of Chiefs of Police Recognizes Railroad Police Officers as Bona Fide Law Enforcement Officers in the United States
Submitted by: Railroad Police Section
rr.005.A11

WHEREAS, railroad police officers have been respected members of the law enforcement community in the United States for over 150 years; and

WHEREAS, railroad police officer's interstate law enforcement authority is derived from federal statute 49 USC 28101; and

WHEREAS, railroad police officers agents are responsible for the protection of - (1) employees, passengers, or patrons of the rail carrier; (2) property, equipment, and facilities operated, or maintained by the rail carrier; (3) property moving in interstate or foreign commerce and (4) personnel, equipment, and material moving by rail that are vital to the national defense; and

WHEREAS, railroad police officers are dedicated, highly trained certified law enforcement professionals who risk their lives in a variety of situations such as criminal law enforcement, protection of the national defense, hazardous material releases, or terrorist attacks; and

WHEREAS, railroad police officers are routinely subjected to the same perils as their federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, which has throughout history resulted in their own injuries or deaths; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, more than 175 railroad police officers have been killed in the line of duty in the United States; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to recognize railroad police officers as bona fide law enforcement officers in the United States; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes railroad police officers as bona fide law enforcement officers in the United States.