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7/21/2025
Union Pacific Railroad earlier this month co-led a special two-day Railroad Investigation and Safety Course (RISC) at the California Highway Patrol headquarters in Sacramento.
Buck Russel, UP senior supervisor of public safety, taught the course with California Operation Lifesaver and another Class I railroad agent, UP officials said in a website post. The program trained officers from across the state to become subject matter experts in rail safety and enforcement.
Newly trained instructors will now be able to educate fellow officers on key aspects of railroad operations, including motorist behavior near tracks, officer safety, investigations and enforcement strategies. UP's goal is to build a network of informed first responders who can effectively share rail safety information.
With more than a decade of experience as a locomotive engineer, Russel brough a unique perspective, UP officials said. He also has experience as a Texas peace officer and as a law enforcement specialist in the Air Force.