BRC Police dedicate a week each month to educating the community about rail safety.

Based off the success of the annual Illinois Rail Safety Week in September, BRC Police initiated their own monthly Rail Safety Week this year. They set aside the first seven days of each month to focus on educating and enforcing railroad crossings.

“Our goal is to have no incidents or injuries,” said Officer Jerry Conoboy. “If we are out there issuing information, people see us and know that we are active. It increases awareness in the community.”

Each officer takes two hours per day during that week to increase railroad safety awareness. This could include setting up posters, providing Operation Lifesaver fliers, giving presentations, or issuing warnings or citations for violations. They focus heavily on their target crossings: 65th and Harlem and 55/59/63/67 and Archer Avenue along the Kenton Line.

“We have seen the results,” Conoboy said. “We have not had any incidents on our 50 crossings since we started.”