(The following article was posted by KMBC in Kansas City on April 17.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There is extra security at local railroad bridges, despite a lower terror-threat level, KMBC’s Maria Antonia reported Wednesday.
Someone is watching each time a train goes over the railroad bridge in Sibley. The extra set of eyes is usually an off-duty Ray County Sheriff’s Department officer.
Antonia reported that the bridge watch apparently began about the same time as the war in Iraq (news – web sites) started.
“What they’re worried about is terrorism. We’re not letting anybody down here except railroad personnel,” Cpl. Steven Brockhoff said.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department said that off-duty officers watch the ASB and Hannibal Bridge. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department guards one at an undisclosed location, and officials said that different law enforcement agencies and security companies are at other bridges.
Officials with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad said that the company’s policy since Sept. 11, 2001, is not to discuss security — only that it is cooperating with federal efforts.
“Attacks on infrastructure, attacks on other things in this country. We put these warnings out from intelligence that we’ve gathered in our investigations,” FBI (news – web sites) Special Agent Jeff Lanza said.
Lanza said that it is up to a company to pick up security steps it might take.
“From what I hear, this is a main thoroughfare from Kansas City to Chicago. Derail one train here it would really put a damper on things,” Brockhoff said.
Some departments watching bridges said that they are paid $20 to $25 an hour by a St. Louis security company. Burlington Northern Santa Fe said that it uses private security and local police along with its own police force.