Canadian National Police Service


The Canadian National Police Service is a private railroad police force protecting the property, personnel, and rail infrastructure of the Canadian National Railway in Canada and the United States.

History

Established in 1923 upon the amalgamation of several railway companies, the Government of Canada established the Canadian National Railways Police. Currently CN Police officers operate across Canada and the United States.
In Canada, the BC Rail Police amalgamated into the CN Police Service in 2005. In the United States, three railway police services: the Illinois Central Railroad Police, the Grand Trunk Railway Police and Wisconsin Central Transportation Police also amalgamated into the CN Police Service.

Jurisdiction

Canada

In Canada, members are federally sworn in under section 44.1 of the Railway Safety Act granting powers as police constables and have the same powers of arrest as any police officer in Canada anywhere in Canada as 'Peace Officers' under Section 2 of the Criminal Code. Police constables are employed by Canadian National and are also considered public servants, sworn to the Crown to uphold the law and protect
The CN Police federal oath of office primarily directs their duties 'on and along' CN infrastructure, protecting properties owned and administered by CN. CN Police have additional provincial appointments which allow them to extend provincial enforcement such as the Highway Traffic Act outside the boundaries set under the Railway Safety Act of Canada.
Under section 26.1 of the Railway Safety Act, it is an offence for any person to "enter on land on which a line work is situated". Offenders can be dealt with in multiple ways such as being compelled to Federal Court by means of a promise to appear or can simply be issued a ticket through the relevant provincial Contravention Act and released. Maximum penalties for contravention of the act for any offence can be up to a $10,000 fine and imprisonment in the case of a private person. A company can also face up to a $200,000 fine for contravention of this act.

United States

In the U.S., each state in which CN operates grants police powers to CN police officers and special agents. State specific powers are also augmented by interstate authority granted by the United States Secretary of Transportation meaning officers have police powers related to the railway in all states CN Police operates in. Individual states may expand this authority within their borders.

Offices and Detachments

Canada

The CN Police Canadian Headquarters is located in Montreal, Quebec with regional headquarters in Toronto, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Edmonton, Alberta; and Vancouver, British Columbia.
CN Police operate further detachments in British Columbia ; Alberta ; Saskatchewan ; Manitoba ; Ontario ; Quebec ; New Brunswick ; and Nova Scotia.

United States

The CN Police United States Headquarters is located in Harvey, Illinois with detachments in Michigan ; Tennessee ; Mississippi ; Louisiana ; and Pennsylvania.