Stand Beside Brother Dennis Mullen as He Fights for His Life  

If you’ve worked passenger service for any length of time, you’ve met this passenger. 

The one who has everyone on edge. The one screaming. The one everyone else quietly backs away from. 

The one who leaves you with a choice: step in or let innocent people fend for themselves. 

Last Friday, July 24, Brother Dennis Mullen, a 15-year railroader, Amtrak conductor, and proud member of SMART-TD Local 1933 in Washington, D.C., made the same choice every good conductor makes. 

He stepped in. 

Today, Dennis is in an intensive care unit fighting for his life.

Everything Changed in Seconds 

Members of Local 1933 were in Raleigh that day for a local picnic. Several local officers and volunteers happened to be at the station in full view of the platform where they could see the train. 

As departure time came and went, the local officers realized Dennis’s train still hadn’t left the station. They started looking toward the platform to see what the delay was. 

What they saw was Dennis standing with a disruptive passenger, waiting for the police. 

According to eyewitnesses, the disruptive individual was crouched and appeared to have settled down while everyone waited for the Raleigh Police Department to arrive. 

Then everything changed. 

Witnesses, who saw the incident firsthand said that the suspect allegedly sprang to his feet as the officers approached, caught Dennis completely by surprise, kicked him, and drove him backward, pushing him over the edge of the platform. 

Brother Mullen fell roughly six feet onto the tracks below. He landed sprawled in the gauge of the rails. 

Local 1933 Vice President Josh Reed rushed to Dennis, reaching him first and stayed with him while emergency responders converged on the scene. 

Dennis is alive, but the injuries are catastrophic. Mullen suffered six shattered ribs, extensive facial fractures, severe shoulder injuries, numerous additional traumatic injuries, and a collapsed lung. As this article is being published, he remains in the ICU as doctors continue fighting to save his life. 

Now Dennis Needs Us 

For 15 years, Dennis has spent his career looking out for passengers, protecting his crew, and doing the job the right way, exactly like he was doing Friday. 

Now he’s the one who needs protecting. 

His family shouldn’t have to worry about how they’ll pay bills, replace lost income, or keep up with mounting medical or legal expenses while they’re sitting beside his hospital bed, praying for good news. 

That’s where we come in. 

A GoFundMe has been established to help Dennis and his family through the difficult weeks and months ahead. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether your donation matters, it does today. 

Whether it’s $10, $25, or $100, every dollar helps take one more burden off Dennis’s family so they can focus on what matters most, his recovery. 

If you can’t donate, please share the fundraiser. 

Please support Brother Dennis Mullen and his family here ► 

The Criminal Case Has Begun 

Raleigh Police arrested Chapel Hill resident Terence James Kiernan, 19, following the incident. 

According to court records, Kiernan has been charged with: 

• Attempted First-Degree Murder 

• Two counts of Assault on a Government Official/Employee 

• Simple Assault 

• Resisting a Public Officer 

• Disorderly Conduct at a Terminal 

• Possession of a Synthetic Cannabinoid 

As with any criminal proceeding, these are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. 

Kiernan is currently being held in the Wake County Detention Center without bond. His next court appearance is on August 17^th. 

What Happens Next 

The August 17 hearing is expected to be a procedural court appearance rather than the trial itself. At that hearing, the court is expected to address preliminary matters, including the defendant’s plea and scheduling the case for future proceedings. 

That means this is not the stage of the process where a large public show of support would have the greatest impact. 

Once a trial date or other significant court proceedings are set, SMART-TD will share that information with our members. If and when it’s appropriate for us to fill the courtroom in support of Brother Mullen and Local 1933, SMART News will be sure to provide all the details. We won’t miss the opportunity to rally around him and make it clear to the courts that we are serious about protecting transportation workers. 

Brother Reed and other leaders in 1933 have already demonstrated what solidarity looks like. Now we owe it to Dennis to be patient, respect the legal process, and be ready to stand with him when it matters most. 

Brotherhood Isn’t Just a Word 

The legal process will play out over the months ahead, but Dennis’s real fight is happening right now in the ICU. 

He needs our prayers. His family needs our support. 

When Dennis begins the long road home, let’s make sure he knows that while he was fighting for his life, thousands of his union brothers and sisters were standing shoulder to shoulder with him. 

That’s what Brotherhood looks like.