Western Railroad Discussion > RAT Pack to patrol Nevada rails

Here's an announcement from the Sheriff's office in Reno, Nev.   I don't know if the railroad is aware of this.  We didn't used to be welcoming of such groups because of liability exposure.
JB - Omaha


....Dozens of Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps* members just became the Sheriff’s Office new “RAT Pack,” a team of volunteers specially trained to provide additional safety and security for local railway infrastructure.RAT (Rail Auxiliary Team) Pack volunteers completed their instruction this morning with some hands-on training, using mock rail cars located at the Regional Public Safety Training Center. Following the training, the volunteer were awarded their RAT Pack pins and badges.“Trains carrying people, and products ranging from coal to computers rumble through Reno twenty-four/seven, three hundred and sixty five days a year,” according to Rich Gent, a railroad safety and security advocate who developed and taught the RAT Pack’s training. “Keeping these trains moving is vital to our National and local economy.”Rail Auxiliary Team members are all active volunteers with the Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps, their RAT Pack training included topics such as:

• how to report trespassers on railroad property
• basic railroad operations
• worldwide railroad terrorism events
• railroad safety
• suicide awareness for railroad operations.

“The Rail Auxiliary Team will help augment local law enforcement who deal with these situations with trained eyes and ears, plus the group has the training to provide the railroad with rail specific locations of people or things on their property so that they may take appropriate action,” Gent said. “The volunteers fully understand the dangers of railroad operations and will provide support while on their normal daily routines.”Gent said the suicide prevention component of the training, taught by the Nevada State Suicide Prevention Coordinator, is part of what makes the new RAT Pack so cutting edge. Volunteers reviewed a recent suicide near Las Vegas and received basic training on suicide prevention and what to look for should they see someone near or on railroad property.The “Rat Pack” will receive continuous monthly on-line training and quarterly face to face training to ensure they are up to speed on the latest rail related topics.Gent also suggested the public review the Nevada Operation Lifesaver public safety awareness program for important information about trespassing on railroad property and railroad crossing safety.“We still receive reports that people continue to go onto the train tracks and into railroad areas where they are not supposed to be,” he said.*The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps is comprised of several teams of trained volunteers including, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Sheriff Mobile Auxiliary Response Team (S.M.A.R.T.), the Citizen’s Homeland Security Council and the new Rail Auxiliary Team. For information about how to volunteer, contact Shirlee Rhodes at (775...

Probably well intentioned but I don't see any mention of UP etc participation. That would seem like a basic element around their tracks

Posted from Android

Probably end up with a bunch of over-zealous members who will use their "authority" to roust people from completely legal, non-trespassing, locations. 

BNSF already does that. It's called "Citizens For Rail Security", how many of us carry the card? === === = === JLH

We have many law enforcement officers and railroad employees who don't know the law...Example being told, "it is illegal to photograph railways".  (This happens all too frequently.)

Now we we get a bunch of wannabe lawmen whose egos extend far beyond their mental capacities.....they, no doubt will try to impress others with their plastic badge and certificate of accomplishment.  No thanks, I will simply stay in my cave...

YY


 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/16 09:02 by YukonYeti.

       Maybe they will arrest each other.

Outfits like this start out with good intentions and then members begin to leave for a variety of reasons... BTW, keeping people off tracks and railroad property isn't a bad idea, as a cop and reporter for many years I saw what can happen when people trespass. I've also seen many railfans do really dumb things. The key here is that railroads are private property.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

Looks like this Sheriff's Volunteer group is mostly retriees that are already doing volunteer work for the department. They now have received some training on railroad safety and operations so they know what to watch for when near the railroad lines in Washoe County. Doesn't sound like they are being posted up along the tracks, but will keep an eye on the tracks when in the area.  Unless, they are working a special event like a big parade in town,  I would expect them to be focusing thier regular efforts in the unincorporated areas outside of Reno and Sparks.


UP and all of the other major railroads always request that local law enforcement help keep an eye out for problems along the tracks in their jurisdictions. Not a bad what Washoe County is doing, as long as they know to stay safe (which is the point of the training). Going through their website photo album, in 2014 it looks like the group took part in riding on a special "Safety" train operated by UP that ran from Sparks to Truckee and Sparks to Hazen.


If they are going to be doing regular on-line training to keep up with rail related topics, perhaps they should sign up for T-O accounts. They can certainly learn a lot on here.

Gary



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/16 09:46 by SN711.

Hmmm.... Wonder if the Las Vegas rat pack will have a Sammy Davis Jr. award for keeping the best eye out on the tracks???

Interesting thing to say about individuals that you don't know. That's classy.

Maybe if there's a couple TO members or other responsible railfans in this group they could also help clear up any misunderstandings about railfanning that the PD might have.

YukonYeti Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------
>
> Now we we get a bunch of wannabe lawmen whose egos
> extend far beyond their mental
> capacities....
>
>
>  

I'm familiar with the program its been in the works or planning stages for some time up north to meet the Sheriff Office and UP approval those I'm unaware if its been approved by the latter. As with most volunteer programs associated with most sheriff offices the volunteers go through a background screening process and depending upon department or office further checks or testing. Will the program work? I don't know, will it jam up the line to RMCC? they may report only to the Sheriff office.Helping or hindering only time will tell.

Nomad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting thing to say about individuals that
> you don't know. That's classy.

+1


Allen
 

From everything I've seen here they're doing this with no input from the railroad.
Should be interesting the first time they interact with the UP Special Agents.
I'm sure they will appreciate the "help", but they would probably appriciate knowing they're out there too.

Should be "interesting" to what their reaction to railfans is going to be too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/16 13:48 by PHall.

partsguy Wrote:
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> Hmmm.... Wonder if the Las Vegas rat pack will
> have a Sammy Davis Jr. award for keeping the best
> eye out on the tracks???

LOL, and maybe a Dean Martin award for bringing in the most intoxicated vagrants.  Or a Frank Sinatra for thinking out of the box. 

Ever see "Reno 911" or hear of the "Citizens' Auxiliary Police"?

Nomad wrote:
------------------------------------------------
> Interesting thing to say about individuals that
> you don't know. That's classy.
>
> Maybe if there's a couple TO membeotherSther
> responsible railfans in this group they could also
> help clear up any misunderstandings about
> railfanning that the PD might have.
>
> YukonYeti Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> ----
> >
> > Now we we get a bunch of wannabe lawmen whose
> egos
> > extend far beyond their mental
> > capacities....
> >
> >
> >  

Nomad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting thing to say about individuals that
> you don't know. That's classy.
>
> Maybe if there's a couple TO members or other
> responsible railfans in this group they could also
> help clear up any misunderstandings about
> railfanning that the PD might have.
>
> YukonYeti Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> ----
> >
> > Now we we get a bunch of wannabe lawmen whose
> egos
> > extend far beyond their mental
> > capacities....
> >
> >
Me thinks that most of the trackside railfans from TO should organize and provide both education and "property management" for the masses instead of the "wannabe lawmen" that YukonYeti described. Most of the trackside railfans know their limits and protect railroad property because they know they could potentially lose the privelege of trackside photography if they don't...

As there name states they will RAT you out if trackside 😝

If they don't have UP's approval and cooperation in this program, won't the volunteers actually be the trespassers?

Yes

Out

ATSF5964 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they don't have UP's approval and cooperation
> in this program, won't the volunteers actually be
> the trespassers?

Generally, yes.  But the devil is in the details.  Depending on what authorities the sheriff or county bestows on the RAT members, and for what purposes, they may be considered law enforcement. That changes their role.

(Not unlike firest responders other than police responding to an emergency, using authorized lights and sirens. The law will control their actual status.)