BART Police Reforms Questioned At State Assembly Hearing
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) – The Bay Area Rapid Transit police force was the focus of a lawmakers' hearing in Sacramento Tuesday, and there were plenty of questions about the status of reforms following two deadly shootings by BART police officers.
The State Assembly Committee on Public Safety was convened by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).
"The reason we're here," said Ammiano. "Is that the BART Board of Directors were neglectful. I'll just say it, so was the previous police chief."
BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey explained police training policies and procedures, and told the committee that BART Police are currently testing a new surveillance camera.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
"This device, when activated, will record all audio and visual encounters between an officer and a potential suspect," said Rainey.
Grant money has been identified to purchase cameras for all personnel, along with a storage system for video download.
Assemblymember Nancy Skinner was critical of BART's response to recent protests against the shooting of Charles Hill.
"BART, as a whole, has the ability without forcing them to, to change its corporate culture," said Skinner. "And I think that's what we are expecting."
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