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BART says, effective immediately, they are increasing the presence of BART police throughout the system. Additional sworn officers, non-sworn community service officers and fare inspectors will also be in the system, on platforms and riding trains.
We wanted to see what that looks like from a rider's perspective.
Follow along with ABC7 News reporter Kris Reyes as she rides BART across the Bay Area, documenting what she sees from a safety and security perspective.
I’m riding @SFBART all day, we want see for ourselves if there has been a boost in officer visibility patrols through out the system. What are you seeing ? pic.twitter.com/WSYzZgZJXo
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
Talked to our first @SFBART rider on the Daly City Train. This is Sundee, she rides the train daily. She has not seen more security this week : pic.twitter.com/n5CdXYCiMS
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
We are @SFBART Hayward Station. Very quiet, haven’t seen a security officer yet. We are about 30 minutes into our ride. Follow along : pic.twitter.com/aLsEwZjIvF
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
Talked to another rider at Hayward Station @SFBART .. @abc7newsbayarea we are riding the trains all day? Follow along here https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc : pic.twitter.com/IR1kSF1uvX
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
An hour into our ride on @SFBART Daly City train, we still haven’t seen our first security officer. @abc7newsbayarea we are riding the system all day, talking to riders about safety. <I’m winded in this video because of a flight of stairs. BART riders can relate no doubt> : pic.twitter.com/cH7mv4AdjR
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
At San Leandro on @SFBART talking to riders all day today. So far, we have not talked to a single rider who has seen more security this week. Follow along here https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc : pic.twitter.com/YCPhS3ZTar
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
We are riding @SFBART all day. Follow here : https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc Talked to another rider. Betty has this message for @SFBART officials : pic.twitter.com/j6reEMH5RO
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
We are now @SFBART Powell Station. We are almost two hours into our ride https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc : This rider spotted some extra security at the station entrance. But she has a message for them : pic.twitter.com/XcK0kMgygg
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
On @SFBART for the last couple of hours. We are now on the Antioch train. Follow thread here https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc : pic.twitter.com/fyzDm32F4q
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
Our @SFBART ride continues https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc : pic.twitter.com/WYn16DPIWO
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
About 3hrs into our ride : pic.twitter.com/CZTYKcUNks
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
Spotted our first @SFBART Police : pic.twitter.com/a7qplPjFbX
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
On our last stop @SFBART MacArthur Station, we saw two Bart Police officers on the platform. It’s a snapshot of an afternoon on the train, showing you what we saw and talking to riders along the way. Thread here : https://t.co/IvvpyeFdLc
— KrisReyes (@KrisReyes) November 21, 2019
So why did we not see many police officers? BART provided this explanation:
"All patrol officers are required to ride trains during each shift. We also have a team of officers who are dedicated to riding trains.
During the peak of commute, there are as many as 58 trains in service. Most shifts are staffed with about 30 officers, so we do not have enough officers to be on every train.
We rely on our BART customers to be our eyes and ears, to report illegal activity. Our officers will respond."
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