Police issuing warnings to RR trespassers

By Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
   Manville students who crossed the railroad tracks on their way to school last week ran into surprise encounters with police patrols, warning them about the dangers of their route.
   ”We’re taking a proactive approach to educate the children,” Police Chief Mark Peltack said. “We’d like to educate them to use the Main Street underpass or the 13th Avenue crossing.”
   During their sweeps on the first day of school, the Manville police and Norfolk Southern police patrols issued 31 warnings and distributed railroad safety brochures to students crossing the tracks. Chief Peltack said Patrolman Craig Jeremiah monitored the crossings before school started, and after the day ended.
   Patrolman Jeremiah and an officer from the Norfolk Southern railroad conducted the first set of patrols, and covered the area from Main Street to 20th Avenue. The police intend to monitor the tracks as long as staffing permits.
   ”We want to keep up our watch as long as we can,” Chief Peltack said. “We’re going to be keeping a vigilant detail.”
   Chief Peltack said the police discussed the additional patrols the week prior to school, and contacted the railroad for its support.
   Patrolman Jeremiah issued most of the warnings to high school and middle school students. Many of the students said they were not aware of the dangers of crossing the tracks, he said. He said many of the students agreed to stay off the tracks in the future.
   Chief Peltack said the police only issued warnings in the first set of sweeps, but further offenses could garner harsher punishments.
   ”It can possibly result in trespassing charges, and we will do that if we have to,” Chief Peltack said.
   In addition, Chief Peltack said the department was researching a safe route through the town that the department would designate with signs. At this point, officers are still researching the route, and would need to find financial backing for the signs before having them installed.