Search

Felony arrests on BART increased 62% last year compared with 2022. The jump comes as BART PD has been aggressively recruiting new officers and ensuring safety staff are riding more trains to increase their visible safety presence. BART officers recorded 726 felony arrests in 2023 compared with 448 for 2022. Along with those arrests 49 illegal firearms were seized in 2023 compared with 40 the previous year. It’s the most guns BART PD has recovered in a year since at least 2003. BART PD has already recovered a dozen firearms so far this year.

“These latest arrest and gun seizure numbers are a credit to all the hard work of our officers,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “Since we started deploying more patrol officers to ride trains we have seen an impact, and our riders are telling us they notice the difference.”

In the latest Quarterly Performance Review the percentage of riders who reported seeing BART PD on their trip reached a record high of 20%. That’s up from the previous record of 17% the previous quarter. The last two quarters have been the first in BART’s history where the percentage of riders who reported seeing BART PD exceed the department’s official goal of 12%.

BART has been working to implement its Safe and Clean Plan which focuses on boosting the visible safety presence in the system and increasing staffing to clean trains and stations.

BART PD has also been advancing an aggressive officer recruitment campaign to fill its remaining vacancies. This effort has been boosted by a 22% salary increase for officers, which was approved by the BART Board to ensure BART PD remains competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. Anyone interested in joining BART PD can learn more at joinbartpd.com.

(Examples of recently seized guns)

Image

BART PD’s aggressive public outreach campaign to hire more officers is getting a boost from a just released recruitment video. The new video highlights the real-world experience of BART PD officers and shows what it’s like to work in a dynamic transit environment. The department has been going all-out to fill all its vacant officer positions. In the latest quarter BART PD received 837 officer applications, a record high for any quarter in the department’s history.

“This video is the latest tool we are adding to our hiring arsenal,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin.  “We have been reaching out to officer candidates by hosting recruitment open houses, attending job fairs,  promoting open positions on social media, and various other methods of outreach. We are doing whatever it  takes to find high-quality candidates who want to join  us on our mission of ensuring that BART is the safest  way to travel around the Bay.”

BART PD currently has 23 officer vacancies, which is down from 29 just two months ago. BART PD is now onboarding 7-9 new officers per month.

A key focus of BART PD’s recruitment campaign has been to highlight the recent 22% salary increase for officers. The BART Board of Directors approved that increase in June to ensure pay at BART PD remains competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. Since that time, BART PD has seen a nearly 50% increase in its monthly sworn officer new hire rate. The pay increase is in addition to the $15,000 hiring bonus currently being offered to new hires. BART PD has increased the frequency of its testing and has also streamlined the hiring process so qualified candidates can join the department more quickly.

BART PD has launched the Join BART PD website, which is exclusively geared towards providing candidates with all the information they need to apply. Since its launch in July the site has attracted more than 80,000 views.

Image

Each summer, a cohort of young people land at BART to learn about the organization and get a glimpse inside the working life that awaits them in their future careers.  

Run by BART’s Workforce Development Division, the BART Internship Program pairs young adults on the cusp of entering the workforce – from high schoolers to collegiates – with BART mentors who show their mentees the ropes and guide them through hands-on projects that have real-world impacts. The interns work across departments, from Engineering and External Affairs to Human Resources and the District Secretary’s Office.  

“We’re looking for energy and excitement about BART,” said Kimberly Davis, Sr. Workforce Development Analyst, who runs the BART Internship Program. “Are you willing to explore? Are you flexible? Are you going to be a positive influence in the workplace? These are some of the things I’m watching for during the interview process.”  

Image

BART interns have opportunities to attend career development and readiness workshops, networking events, career panels, and special behind-the-scenes tours of the innerworkings of the agency. Every intern is paid, whether through BART or a community partner, such as local city offices, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions.  

At the end of the internship, participants showcase their final projects in a formal presentation to executives, mentors, staff, peers, and community sponsors. When they say farewell to BART, they leave with a refreshed resume, a letter of recommendation, and some hard-earned insight into life post-graduation – wherever it may take them.  

That’s enough from us – let’s hear from the BART interns themselves!  

Responses have been edited for space and clarity. 

Image

Q: Why did you want to intern at BART?  

Ruben: I’ve commuted for the past few years on BART, and I wanted to know what was going on behind-the-scenes and see how it works.  

Michai: I wanted the work experience and to learn more about work.  

Brian: I wanted to intern at BART because I want to expand my knowledge of construction management because I’m interested in working for PG&E.  

Elizabeth: I wanted to intern at BART because it’s public sector, and I have always wanted to learn more about transportation.  

Question: What projects are you involved in?  

Isabella: I’ve been working on a digital record management system. I’ve been entering Board resolutions into the computer so they’re easier to find.  

Austin: I’ve been going to every single station and counting their inventory. I’m helping BART save money! 

Katy: I am making a mock-up of the new faregates out of PVC and cardboard to help people figure out how to move the gates into labs and through tight corners and doorways. I’ve learned that a lot of the fun things are also the challenges. I have to be methodical about the project and not forget anything. 

Nahom: I’ve done a lot of different tasks during my internship. Looking at new technology in the field is cool.  

Matthew: I’m involved in two projects related to automated software that allow you to automate your workflow. I obviously cannot finish it in six weeks, but my goal is to finish the outline and create the program. Every day is fun.  

Q: What have you learned during the internship and how might you apply it in the future? 

Isabella: I learned how to organize, adjust, and adapt things to the future to make things easier for people.  

Matthew: I’ve learned a lot, especially about the importance of gaining experience, networking, and professionalism.  

Katy: I’ve learned a lot about the reality of working. I don’t want to work in an office, but the experience has been great. 

Q: What have you learned from your mentor? How have they helped you throughout the internship?  

Elizabeth: My mentor Ally has been very supportive of me and very patient. Even if I don’t know what to do, she loves answering questions. It was good leaning on her for things I needed help with.  

Brian: When I got to this department, I was really confused as to what was going on. But since being here, I’ve learned a lot, including about the differences between being in the field and being in the office.  

Q: Do you think you’d like to work at BART in the future? 

Ruben: If the opportunity comes, then yes, I would like to.  

Isabella: I think I would if the opportunity is presented. I would like to work in a field where you talk to people, so the communications department.  

Matthew: It depends. I don’t like working for but working with. I like the environment here.  

Students interested in internships at BART can email the Workforce Development team at [email protected]. General internships are sponsored through partnerships with various community-based organizations in the BART service area.