The Bay Area is beginning to discuss the issue of transit policing. My story for Spot.Us will help give a wide-angle view of a very complex issue. The story will delve into a variety of areas including the main crimes committed around BART, training for officers, and why BART has one of the most unique transit police services in the country.
This pitch is for the Spot.Us community but interested news organizations can get involved as well. You can view my last Spot.Us story to see a sample of my work.
An upcoming report from an outside agency on BART police department affairs will bring new light to the practice of transit policing. As one of the only transit agencies in the U.S. that uses its own stand alone police department, BART will also be one of the first transit agencies to release a report that will, in part, make public some behind the scenes practices and procedures used in securing BART parking garages, trains and rail lines that run all throughout the Bay Area.
In mid-February, BART turned over its internal affairs investigation to Oakland-based law firm Meyers Nave to delve into the actions of BART transit police officers present during the events leading up to the shooting death of Oscar Grant on Jan. 1 at the Fruitvale Station platform. Former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle has been ordered to stand trial for murder. A public report from the law firm on the action of BART officers at the scene is expected any day now.
The Meyers Nave report will be the first of two reports looking at BART police actions. BART also hired another outside agency to conduct an independent review of BART’s police policies.
The BART shooting was the first in a series of recent incidents involving transit police departments across the country, including a Houston Metro police officer shooting near Rice University in May.
Grant’s shooting also highlights the lack of comprehensive information about transit policing both for BART and most transit police agencies across the nation. For example, in depth information on ongoing criminal trends are scant for many transit agencies.
Researchers all over the country say transit police policies and training has not been held up to the public spotlight. With the Grant shooting, transit policing will never be the same.
