The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department has reported a surge in arrests in March and April, marking the highest monthly arrest totals since March 2020. According to preliminary data, BPD made 258 arrests across the system in March and a total of 266 in April.
The surge in arrests follows BART PD’s implementation of a new deployment strategy which doubled the number of sworn officers riding on trains on the system. This strategy has resulted in an additional 18 officers patrolling trains each shift.
BART riders expressed their desire for even more security measures. BART Board President Janice Li stated that “Our riders have told us loud and clear they want to see more BPD presence on trains and in stations.”
A recent survey found only 17% of frequent BART riders feel safe on the transit system and 45% of people who do not ride BART say it’s because they do not feel safe.
BART, along with other transit agencies, has appealed to the state for funding to prevent service cuts. Additionally, BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin said they plan to hire more officers, crisis intervention specialists, and transit ambassadors to ensure the safety and security of riders.
