The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

OFFICER OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2001

SPECIAL AGENT KENNETH E. EULTGEN, JR.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD POLICE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has announced the selection of Special Agent Kenneth E. Eultgen, Jr. as its Officer of the Month for April 2001. Special Agent Eultgen is a Senior Instructor with the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department.

In April 1974, Kenneth Eultgen became a police officer with the Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) of St. Louis, which at the time was the largest switching railroad in the nation. In eight short years he was promoted to Lieutenant of Police, a field position in which he served as shift supervisor. In 1988 his decision to attend the first of many police instructor program, would alter the course of his career. He knew immediately that his greatest satisfaction would come from being an instructor. Since early childhood, Ken Eultgen loved working on puzzles. "Putting puzzles together is much like solving cases," says Special Agent Eultgen. "I love finding the clues to solving the mysteries of the puzzles. However, to teach, is to touch a life forever."

After that one course, then Lieutenant Eultgren was appointed to be the TRRA Police Department's Firearms Instructor. He was called upon to teach at other facilities in the area, including the Southwest Illinois Law Enforcement Commission (SILEX), the Belleville Area College Police Academy and the St. Clair County Corrections Academy. In 1992 he was promoted to Captain of Police and placed in command of all police operations, second in command to the Chief. After participating in the Federal Emergency Management Administration's (FEMA) courses on emergency planning, he co-authored the TRRA Emergency Response Plan.

After 22 years with the TRRA, Ken Eultgen accepted a position as a Special Agent with the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department. Within a year, he was promoted to the position of Senior Special Agent Instructor and became responsible for training Union Pacific agents in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Special Agent Eultgen continued to hone his skills as an instructor, by attending courses himself. He has been certified in Defensive Tactics (both PPCT and Monandock), Glock transition, Verbal Judo, Defensive Driving, Red Handle Training, Blood Borne Pathogens, NRA Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun and Home Safety and HazMatR&I. In addition, he was part of a team that designed a computer based reporting system for Union Pacific agents now serving in 23 states. He authored the program's lesson plan and helped develop the accompanying training video.

Having completed a pilot program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for Antiterrorism Planning for Land-Based Transportation, Special Agent Eultgen is now one of a handful of trainers who will present this important program to departments nationwide.

Special Agent Eultgen is an active member of the St. Louis Major Case Squad and the Missouri and Illinois Special Agents Association and has participated in many significant investigations and task force operations. A conservative estimate is that he has instructed more than 5,000 federal, state, local and railroad police personnel in firearms, defensive tactics, defensive driving and railroad safety.

According to Deputy Chief Gary T. Lottman of the Union Pacific Railroad Police, "Ken has an uncanny ability to communicate with his student police officers. This is because Ken teaches from the heart and it shows. Student officers are energized and better prepared to discharge their duties, because of his extraordinary training skills. The respect that is given Special Agent Eultgen is well deserved. I am honored to be his co-worker and friend."

Special Agent Eultgen and his wife of 27 years, Maureen, have three daughters. For more than 20 years his training skills were put to the ultimate test as he coached his girls on the basketball court and the soccer and softball fields.