GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Members of the Green Bay Police Department got out of their squad cars and hopped on a train as an effort to get a better understanding of what train drivers see when crossing the railroads.
The initiative aims to reduce the number of accidents and near misses that occur in Green Bay.
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“Our hope today is that we see no violations, that people are crossing safely, and not putting the people on the train in danger,” Green Bay Police Traffic Sergeant Sean Hamill said.
The last time “Officer on a Train” was held was in 2023, when there were 25 to 30 near misses in the area. As of September, there have been 12 near misses in 2025.
“To get on a locomotive to see what is actually happening, to actually see a crossing when it is going on, to see how the drivers react to what a train is doing, so a lot of times officers will be like we didn’t know that was going on,” Gary Koerner, State Coordinator for Operation Lifesaver, said.
Over the past five years, Brown County has had the highest number of incidents, and Green Bay leads the way in cities in that same category.
One of the many reasons this happens is distracted drivers.
“The biggest thing is distractions, cell phones, radios, kids in the back seat, the big thing is when we go out to even grade schools, we tell kids when you see mom and dad driving and getting close to the train tracks, to be quiet so mom and dad can hear the train coming,” Koerner said.
Having a main goal of making sure that all drivers in Green Bay are safe on the road at all times, and making sure they are aware of when trains can be crossing.
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“The people who live here in Green Bay will realize that there are incidents that occur along this industrial center, and that they will have to be willing to embrace the changes that we are going to make to make this area safer for everyone,” Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner Don Vruwink said.
Authorities remind residents that violations will be given out when illegal moves are made on the road, when crossing a railroad, or speeding to beat a train.
