BART deploys special Police forces for 9/11 anniversary

BART Police Tactical Team a New Addition to BART's Anti-Terrorism Efforts

From noon until 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, BART is inviting the media to watch a large number of BART Police Tactical Team members descend upon the 12th Street & Broadway Station in Oakland to sweep trains and use other measures to counter terrorism. BART Chief Spokesperson Linton Johnson will also be available for interviews.

The BART Police Department has been randomly deploying both its Tactical Team and its Inspection Team (I-Team) on trains and at stations as part of BART's effort to increase security and visibility in the days leading up to and following the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The use of the Tactical Team and I-Team is new to BART's anti-terrorism efforts. However, BART has been using both teams for other special events.

Tactical & I-team Training
Both the Tactical Team and the I-Team are trained to recognize and respond to terrorism. Additionally, the Tactical Team is specially trained in crowd management and control as well as handling suspects in large crowds. The I-Team is specially trained to recognize potential terrorist behavior.

BART'S additional anti-terrorism efforts
Additionally, BART administrators, who include managers, lawyers, secretaries, and engineers, are helping the police department increase security and visibility by patroling trains and stations in bright vests.

BART Police are also using bomb-sniffing dogs to patrol trains and stations.

BART continues to encourage its passengers to report unattended items and suspicious behavior immediately to BART Police, Train Operators, Station Agents or other BART staff.