Gascón, who is currently running for District Attorney in San Francisco, said that the DA’s office will be willing to work with Union Pacific on security issues. He also stated that his goal was not an investigation but rather a conversation about what needs to happen next.
(CBSLA) – LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – On Friday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón reacted to Union Pacific executives’ worries about rail track thefts and safety.
(Photo courtesy of CBS)
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Train thefts increased by 365 percent between October 2020 and October 2021, according to Union Pacific. Officials from the train business had also written to the DA, describing the situation as a “spiraling disaster” and urging him to hold criminals responsible.
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In response, Gascón said in a letter that his office reviewed Union Pacific’s claims submitted during the previous three years.
“These are the figures: A total of 78 cases were offered for filing in 2019. A total of 56 cases were proposed for filing in 2020. In 2021, 47 similar occurrences were reported, indicating a dramatic drop.
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My Office submitted over 55% of the documents that were provided for filing consideration. According to the DA’s letter, “the allegations brought comprised both felony and misdemeanor crimes including burglary, theft, and receiving stolen items.”
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According to the letter, ten of the 20 charges Gascón’s office refused to file were due to a lack of evidence, while the other ten contained claims of unhoused persons being within 20 feet of railway lines and possessing narcotics for personal use, rather than burglary, theft, or tampering.
“While homelessness is a significant problem, it is not one that can be solved by using the criminal justice system’s resources,” the DA’s letter said.
According to Gascón’s letter, felony and misdemeanor prosecutions are brought when there is enough evidence to indicate that a crime was committed.
“We recognize the importance of the rail system to Los Angeles County and the country as a whole, and we want to collaborate with you to guarantee that those who tamper with or steal from UP are held responsible…. “Taking proactive efforts to guarantee that cargo containers are safe or secured” is part of this teamwork, according to the letter.
The District Attorney’s letter goes on to say that Union Pacific has its own law enforcement officers tasked with keeping the train tracks safe, but that “UP does little to secure or lock trains and has significantly decreased law enforcement staffing,” according to Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Al Labrada.
“The fact that other big railroad companies in the vicinity are not seeing the same amount of theft at their facilities as UP is quite revealing.” “While my office is responsible with ensuring that proper charges are brought and prosecuted, my office is not tasked with keeping your website safe, and the District Attorney alone cannot address the main concerns affecting your company,” according to the letter.
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The whole letter from the District Attorney to Adrian Guerrero, Union Pacific Railroad Company’s General Director-Public Affairs, may be seen here.
