(The following article by Martha Fulkerson appeared in the Frankfort Times.)
FRANKFORT, Ind. — The days when outlaws rode the rails are making a comeback.
With dozens of trains rolling through Clinton County each week, local Emergency Response Team members are getting on track.
ERT members endured bitter winds and frigid temperatures Sunday night during a training exercise to help them prepare for law enforcement situations.
A first for Clinton County, the 11 members — officers with Frankfort Police and Clinton County Sheriff’s departments and Kirklin Town Marshal Byron Padgett — learned the tactics needed to handle hostage situations and fugitives on board a train.
After a one-hour education session at the sheriff’s department, the men demonstrated their expertise in the Norfolk Southern rail yard. Frankfort firefighters, Emergency Management personnel and representatives from the Salvation Army were also on-site, along with two railroad special agents.
“This is for the protection of the community,” said Sgt. Brian Walters, ERT commander. “It really takes an overall team effort. You hope to God it never happens, but you have to train to be prepared.”
The training exercise was the brainchild of FPD officer Troy Bacon and Sgt. Jeff Matthews. After reading articles on the vulnerability of the railways, Bacon approached his teammates about interest in training. The men were willing, and Bacon and Matthews wrote letters to railroad companies. Norfolk and Southern was the only one to respond.
“We were glad to have the opportunity to help out,” said Jim Wisehunt, supervisory special agent with the railway’s police department. “I think it’s a big benefit to the community because everyone needs to work together as a team to make it safe for everybody.”
Wisehunt and Special Agent Dale Jenkins helped set up the train cars and engine. They also made arrangements for the tracks to be shut down. The two are based out of Decatur, Ill., but Frankfort is part of their territory.
From research he conducted, Bacon learned approximately 5,000-10,000 tankers passing on the railways are not searched, making them vulnerable to drug traffickers, terrorists and refugees. Locally, he said people have been caught climbing onto trains as they leave bars or flee police.
Bacon said four gangs are known to associate with trains: Freight Train Riders of America, Stone Tramp People, Wrecking Crew and Home Guard. According to information on the Internet, railroad gang members ride the rails. Robberies, rapes and murders have been associated with them, but the cases are hard to solve because the suspects and witnesses hop on trains to flee the area.
It’s only a matter of time before the gangs pass through Frankfort, Bacon said, and it’s important for police to be ready.
“This is kind of a first for us, which is kind of neat,” Bacon said, “but kind of scary.”
Police Chief Bill Moudy, Sheriff Mark Mitchell, Deputy Chief Mike Hensley and Mayor Roy Scott were among the spectators as the team stormed the train’s engine to remove the “bad guy,” played by Frankfort police officer Glenn Talbot. They also searched inside, between and underneath box cars and negotiated a hostage situation.
“I think it’s great thing,” Scott said, noting the first ERT started when he was police chief. “I think this one is a much better one though.”
Ed Cripe was one of several firefighters present at the exercise. His department has stood by as ERT members have responded to 14 calls in the past two years, when the team formed. The presence of a fire engine and ambulance is crucial in case of an explosion or injury. The men also know how to deal with hazardous materials.
“It’s good we can all get together and work together,” he said. “If we just keep training, everything will fall into place and we should be able to resolve a situation in a quick and easy manner.”
ERT members participate on a volunteer basis and are on-call 24 hours a day. Training is time-consuming and extensive, consisting of classroom instruction and training for various situations, including hostage standoffs, civil disturbances and high-risk warrant service.
Sunday’s endeavor wrapped up about 9 p.m. Overall, Walters was satisfied.
“I think it went good,” he said. “It was a chance for others to see what teamwork was involved.”
Donations to the ERT are used to assist in the cost of training officers and buying equipment, and the members are interested in training in various facilities. For more information or to contribute, contact the police department.