That small Canadian town suffered one of the world’s deadliest modern rail disasters when crude-oil tankers exploded in 2013. Thirteen years later, resident and safety advocate Robert Bellefleur says promised safety upgrades are still stalled. His advocacy recently drew an alarming response: armed Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railroad police appeared at his door, fining him nearly $700.

Why should that matter here?  Railroad companies such as Canadian National (CN), with headquarters in Montreal operate private police forces that are authorized to patrol in the United States, including along the EJ&E line running through Lake County communities including Barrington to Libertyville and beyond. This rail line carries hazardous materials through some of the most densely populated parts of our county, often blocking crossings for long stretches and raising concerns about safety, emergency access, and corporate accountability.
Canadian attorney Tavengwa Runyowa is now pressing the U.S. government to examine how foreign-owned railroad police have exercised quasi-public powers here for decades. His concern: what oversight exists when foreign corporations enforce “law and order” on U.S. soil?

Legal documents filed by Runyowa:
SIA 14 CERTIFICATE-JLA-12484
SIA 14 Letter to court with certificate-JLA-12485
SIA 14 Letter to lawyer with certificate-JLA-12486