On Sept. 9, 2022, Conductor Joseph Miles noticed a man acting strange while carrying an infant. He noticed the child was unresponsive and immediately called for police and medical assistance to make sure the baby was safe. His quick thinking did not go unnoticed—he was honored by his peers with the My Metra Honors Annual Service Award for 2022.
What do you remember about that day?
The way the individual was acting, the way he was responding to people around him, it caught my attention. I had to ask the hard questions and make quick decisions. Those decisions saved somebody’s life.
How did your Metra team respond to your calls for help?
People came out to help. I had a nurse on the train who said it seemed like the child needed attention. That’s when I touched the baby’s forehead—it was unresponsive so there was a lot of support. It was a wonderful thing that everybody came together for that cause.
How does it feel to be recognized by Metra?
It was a great honor, and I am very proud. We don’t do what we do looking for awards, we’re doing our job. I'm just trying to create an environment where everybody can feel safe, an environment where you can bring your family.
This is more than just a job for you, isn’t it?
I retired from the Navy on April 30, 2008. I got hired at Metra the same year. I left a structured environment and came into another structured environment where I feel that what I have to offer, what I bring to the table, and what I try to do on a daily basis makes a difference.
Being a conductor, out in the front line, feels familiar to you?
Yes. I think about people. I put myself in their shoes. I rode trains all around the world when I was in the Navy. I remember Japan and I know how it feels to not speak the language. I try to help people and get them where they need to go.