Guilford Rail System Police Department Receives First of Its Kind Grant for Community Policing

On Monday, 3/1/99 at 10:00 AM at the Mogen Center (40 French St., Lowell, MA) at Lowell National Park, Congressman Marty Meehan and officials of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Department of Justice will present Boston and Maine Railroad President Thomas Steiniger with a grant worth $225,000 to be used for community policing on the railroad system.

Boston and Maine police department is the first railroad police agency in the country to use this innovative grant to further the community policing concepts. The grant will allow the expansion of current programs used on the railroad as well as the initiation of innovative new programs for the community. These include the following:

1. The Railroad will be expanding the Operation Lifesaver presentations in local schools and to school bus and truck drivers. Operation Lifesaver is a program which promotes safety at railroad grade crossings and explains the dangers of trespassing on the railroad. Captain Fred Fraini of this department is the Massachusetts State Coordinator of this program.

2. The Railroad is currently performing a survey of all rail lines which have their starting point at North Station and continue on through numerous communities such as Lowell. We will learn from this study where our most serious grade crossing and trespass violations occur. After pinpointing our problem areas, we will take enforcement and educational measures to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents at grade crossings (caused by those who ignore warning devices at grade crossings) and reduce the number of incidents and injuries related to trespassers.

3. The railroad police department will continue its involvement in the training of local and state police officers in train/motor vehicle accident investigations through the Grade Crossing Collision Investigators Course.

4. Railroad police officers will be getting out of their cruisers and visiting with local residents and businesses whose property abuts the railroad, allowing them to voice their crime concerns. Residents and business owners will be encouraged to become part of a team to address and resolve any issues which may concern them. By having officers visit with these groups and establishing the team approach to crime prevention, we hope to open the lines of communication between citizens and the Railroad Police, encouraging them to contact the Railroad Police Community Policing Office any time they have questions or concerns. 

5. We will continue and expand our efforts to work closely with local police departments, civic groups, state and federal agencies in promoting crime prevention and safety to enhance the quality of life for those who have crime concerns.