BART PD takes a comprehensive look at enforcement data, embraces enhanced training
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department (BPD) will be looking for potential racial disparities in enforcement after compiling its quality-of-life enforcement demographic data.
Quality of life issues include fare enforcement, public intoxication, smoking, aggressive panhandling and similar violations. BPD has been at the forefront of collecting and analyzing enforcement demographic data. BPD previously reached out to the Center for Policing Equity, a nationally known research and action think tank, for a study of the data and the report will be finalized in the coming months.
In December 2019, BART Director Janice Li requested BART staff to present demographic data on quality of life citations and contacts. The review is supported by new BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez and is consistent with his safety vision, which includes a renewed commitment to transparency and community policing, according to BART. The data will be presented at the February 27 BART Board of Directors meeting.
“As the chief of the BART Police Department I have made it a priority that we continue to build a culture of progressive and equitable policing,” said Chief Alvarez. “We must examine these findings and better understand why they exist and how they relate to the homeless crisis that often leads to quality of life enforcements.”
BPD says it has been proactive in training officers to avoid racial profiling and that its training exceeds state standards. Starting in 2015, all officers received fair and impartial policing training. All personnel who join the department are required to complete that training as well as to take a refresher course every two years.
“My officers work hard every day to keep our system safe and serve our community,” said Chief Alvarez. “They receive extensive training that reinforces our commitment to progressive policing. Layers of oversight have been added, and to date, no officer has ever been sustained for any allegation of racial profiling by the Office of Internal Affairs or the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.”
“BPD is showing its commitment to progressive policing by embracing training that prioritizes racial equity,” said BART Independent Police Auditor Russell Bloom. “This training is consistent with the goals of the BART Citizen Oversight Model and shows that the department understands that building trust with the communities BART serves is a priority.”
BART establishing interdisciplinary group to participate in race and equity training series
BART is also announcing it will participate in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) training series to advance systematic racial equity and opportunities for all. GARE supports agencies that are at the forefront of advancing racial equity. This effort stretches across the agency as members of eight BART departments have committed to a year-long training which will focus on skill building, strategic development and connecting with impacted community members. BART says the Office of the Independent Police Auditor played a leading role in bringing this training to the district.
Center for Policing Equity Report to be finalized by summer
BPD is reviewing the draft of the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) study. The report was presented to the department in December and BPD will respond by March 2. The final draft of the report will be ready by Summer 2020 when the findings will be presented to the board. BPD began its relationship with the CPE in 2012 and entered this study voluntarily, according to BART.
