5 ms·

Amtrak is defacto a government agency, calling it a corporation is a bit of rhetorical overkill. And since Amtrak is responsible for all long distance train tra

Amtrak is defacto a government agency, calling it a corporation is a bit of rhetorical overkill. And since Amtrak is responsible for all long distance train travel in this country, and its infrastructure, why not have its own police force?

Spooky23 12y ago
Most every major railroad has a police force.
- ZanyProgrammer 12y ago
  Only BNSF and UP, from what I remember (in the US).
  - Spooky23 12y ago
    Nope, plenty more... CSX: http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/community/csx-police-department/ http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/community/csx-police-department... NY MTA: http://web.mta.info/mta/police/ http://web.mta.info/mta/police/ Norfolk Southern: http://www.protecttheline.com/ns_police.php http://www.protecttheline.com/ns_police.php Canadian Pacific: http://www.cpr.ca/en/safety/cp-police-service http://www.cpr.ca/en/safety/cp-police-service
    - ZanyProgrammer 12y ago
      Interesting, forgot about CSX, though I don't count transit police in the same category as police for freight rail-freight being genuine private companies as opposed to public transit agencies.
- psykovsky 12y ago
  The world is so big...
- dagw 12y ago
  Is that a good thing? Why not have a Federal Rail Transport Police? I'm honestly not sure how I feel about a bunch of for profit organizations all having their own police force, but I'm willing to be convinced it's a good idea. Something about the phrase $COMPANY Police just makes me uncomfortable.
  - Spooky23 12y ago
    The Federal government generally stays away from general police duties, because most of the laws typically enforced by the police are state laws. When the Feds operate police forces, it is scoped to a specific institution or place. The VA, GSA, US Mint, etc operation police forces oriented towards federal property. I think it makes sense for railroads to have police, as the crimes that affect them are multi-jurisdictional by nature and specific to the railroad. Colleges are similar in many ways... US Marshalls + pinkertons provided security to railroads in the 19th century. Professional police alleviate many of the abuses that inevitably happen with security people. I get a little uncomfortable with private police not tied to an institution. When I was in vacation in South Carolina, the resort rent-a-cops were sworn officers... that sounds like a way to cover up crime to me.
- ams6110 12y ago
  Even commuter systems do. Chicago proper has the Chicago Transit Police, and the suburban system (Metra) has its own police as well.
shiggerino 12y ago
How does it differ from other corporations with government investors? These companies exist to be able to operate at a loss to serve a greater benefit to the public, but giving them more power than that doesn't really seem like it would be in the public's interest.

Spooky23 12y ago

Most every major railroad has a police force.

ZanyProgrammer 12y ago
Only BNSF and UP, from what I remember (in the US).
- Spooky23 12y ago
  Nope, plenty more... CSX: http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/community/csx-police-department/ http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/community/csx-police-department... NY MTA: http://web.mta.info/mta/police/ http://web.mta.info/mta/police/ Norfolk Southern: http://www.protecttheline.com/ns_police.php http://www.protecttheline.com/ns_police.php Canadian Pacific: http://www.cpr.ca/en/safety/cp-police-service http://www.cpr.ca/en/safety/cp-police-service
  - ZanyProgrammer 12y ago
    Interesting, forgot about CSX, though I don't count transit police in the same category as police for freight rail-freight being genuine private companies as opposed to public transit agencies.
psykovsky 12y ago
The world is so big...
dagw 12y ago
Is that a good thing? Why not have a Federal Rail Transport Police? I'm honestly not sure how I feel about a bunch of for profit organizations all having their own police force, but I'm willing to be convinced it's a good idea. Something about the phrase $COMPANY Police just makes me uncomfortable.
- Spooky23 12y ago
  The Federal government generally stays away from general police duties, because most of the laws typically enforced by the police are state laws. When the Feds operate police forces, it is scoped to a specific institution or place. The VA, GSA, US Mint, etc operation police forces oriented towards federal property. I think it makes sense for railroads to have police, as the crimes that affect them are multi-jurisdictional by nature and specific to the railroad. Colleges are similar in many ways... US Marshalls + pinkertons provided security to railroads in the 19th century. Professional police alleviate many of the abuses that inevitably happen with security people. I get a little uncomfortable with private police not tied to an institution. When I was in vacation in South Carolina, the resort rent-a-cops were sworn officers... that sounds like a way to cover up crime to me.
ams6110 12y ago
Even commuter systems do. Chicago proper has the Chicago Transit Police, and the suburban system (Metra) has its own police as well.

shiggerino 12y ago

How does it differ from other corporations with government investors? These companies exist to be able to operate at a loss to serve a greater benefit to the public, but giving them more power than that doesn't really seem like it would be in the public's interest.