Deploying more officers on BART trains resulted in increased felony arrests over the past year, according to the transit agency.
The rapid transit system saw a 62% increase in arrests last year compared to 2022. The jump coincides with recruitment efforts of new officers and a strategic increase in the presence of safety personnel aboard trains, according to a statement from BART on Thursday.
Officers logged a total of 726 felony arrests in 2023, a sharp rise from the 448 recorded in the preceding year. They confiscated 49 illegal firearms, the highest number recovered by BART police in a single year since at least 2003.
BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin said the impact is the result of deploying more patrol officers on trains, noting that riders have reported noticing a palpable difference in safety. The latest quarterly performance review revealed that 20% of riders reported seeing BART police during their trips, an increase from the previous record of 17% in the preceding quarter.
The most frequent crime on BART is disturbing others and other code of conduct violations, according to a BART spokesperson.
BART employs around 214 police officers, around the same number they have had for years, the spokesperson said, but the arrests are due to the increased presence on trains.
In a bid to address staffing shortages, they have implemented a 22% salary increase for officers to be competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area.
15 comments
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!
22% Salary increase? By their own statement they weren’t doing their job in the first place, there should have been an increased police presence on the trains along time ago. Why do we have to fight and Bart to lose ridership to get them to do their jobs? 49 illegal firearms, there is proof right there that we need to be able to have open or concealed carry to protect ourselves.
That’s good news but doesn’t mean I’m going to vote for their proposed transit tax. Better freeze salaries now.
“…The most frequent crime on BART is disturbing others and other code of conduct violations” Of those committing the crimes, what percentage paid to get on the system. Of those with illegal firearms, what percentage of those paid to get on the system. I think I know, but would like BART to understand if they secure the system where only riders that paid to get in and on the system can ride they would see a massive increase in safety for paid riders. Secure the system! Let the low lifes know BART is not a place to hang out, sleep, do stupid stuff or use it for a free ride to go commit crime, sell drugs etc. Put multiple cops at every set of fare gates for 6 months as a trail.
How about prosecutions and incarcerations? Are they up too? Nope they are probably not so this just feel-good BS.
“Officers logged a total of 726 felony arrests in 202”. This number of felonies on BART completly blows me away. … BART trains and BART stations is such a small area to patrol …so it tells you that BART is a huge magnet for crime.
Absolutely Brilliant, who’da thunk Police riding bart would cut down on crime.
Someone should get an award ! ! !
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As for bart management,
“The best minds are not in government. If any were,
business would steal them away.”
— Ronald Reagan
That must mean 62% more in additional ridership now that it’s safe. Ha Ha
When BART Police arrest individuals like the man not violating the law when he was charging his cell phone, which will result in another lawsuit, then they aren’t doing their job correctly. Arrests mean nothing when they make arrests for non-crimes, what are the prosecution and conviction rates? I’m not impressed that the BART Police Department is bragging over arrest numbers.
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When BART Police Officers make arrests because they don’t know the law or don’t care to know the law and don’t know our rights or don’t care to know our rights, then it does the public no good, it only causes the public more money in paying out lawsuits.
It’s the same game being played in Oakland and San Francisco-don’t arrest anybody and claim
there is less crime. It’s for suckers.
…. they have a loooooong way to go for reassurance of safety and cleaning up the trains and stations
Maybe BART should set up facial recognition to permanently ban the people they are arresting. Riding BART is not a constitutional right
did any of them even get a court date?were they scolded and let go
Why do BART police have cars when they have trains for them to use? They could save millions by eliminating the cost associated with the cars and it would keep the police on the trains.
BART police have had the same number of cops for years but only now are increasing presence on the trains? Where were they before????
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