BART Citizen Review Board to have police training

On March 1, 2012, BART Police Department (PD) will initiate a new two-day introductory training course for the BART Citizens' Review Board (CRB). The course, known as Field Operations Concentrated Uniform Session (FOCUS), is intended to help give the CRB insight to the practices and performance of BART Police Training.  

The BART Police Department developed this program in order to provide professional development training for BART’s CRB. This abbreviated course will provide members with an introduction into the very latest training policies, procedures and practices of the BART PD.

“I am pleased to offer this BART PD training opportunity to the BART CRB,” BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey said.  “We hope all of our CRB members will be able to join us in this training, and learn more about the agency they review in order to assist them in continuing to make fair and impartial decisions for a safe and cohesive community.”

This FOCUS course will include:  laws of arrest, racial profiling prevention, dispatch, K-9 units, ethical use of force, electronic and projectile weapons (including TASER, arrest and control), force options, driver’s training update, and a crisis intervention team presentation. CRB members will have the opportunity to test their decision making skills in the Force Options and Driving Simulators. Future training for this course will include onsite visits during the PD’s training as it occurs during the year.

“This method of transparency in training is intended to assist the CRB members with their oversight of BART’s Police Department,” Chief Rainey said. “It will provide insight of how well the PD keeps current of the legal, professional and social issues that affect the agency, its leaders and the communities that we serve.”