By Tim Redmond
When the BART Board’s special committee on civilian oversight of the BART police came up with its draft proposal, it seemed as if the BART cops were going to (reluctantly) go along. It’s not the strongest review possible, and has some real flaws — among other things, the police union gets to pick a member of the oversight panel.
But the reform measure can’t pass without state legislation — BART is a creature of the state, and the law that created the agency didn’t give it the authority it needs to do effective police oversight. The changes aren’t major, but unless the state acts, there’s really no way for BART to implement even a modest plan.
And today, the BART Police union fired off a letter to the board announcing that it — along with the Peace Officers Research Association of California, a powerful statewide law-enforcement lobby — would oppose any state bill authorizing civilian oversight for BART.