establish and conduct training programs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy at Quantico, Virginia, to provide, at the request of a State, unit of local government, or rail carrier, training for State and local criminal justice personnel, including railroad police officers;

develop new or improved approaches, techniques, systems, equipment, and devices to improve and strengthen criminal justice; and

assist in conducting, at the request of a State, unit of local government, or rail carrier, local and regional training programs for the training of State and local criminal justice personnel engaged in the investigation of crime and the apprehension of criminals. Training for rural criminal justice personnel shall include, when appropriate, effective use of regional resources and methods to improve coordination among criminal justice personnel in different areas and in different levels of government. Such training shall be provided only for persons actually employed as State police or highway patrol, police of a unit of local government, sheriffs, and their deputies, railroad police officer,1 and other persons as the State, unit of local government, or rail carrier may nominate for police training while such persons are actually employed as officers of such State, unit of local government, or rail carrier.

the terms “rail carrier” and “railroad” have the meanings given such terms in section 20102 of title 49; and

the term “railroad police officer” means a peace officer who is commissioned in his or her State of legal residence or State of primary employment and employed by a rail carrier to enforce State laws for the protection of railroad property, personnel, passengers, or cargo.