Crackdown on crime has paid off big time for BART, as felony arrests have taken a sharp 62% uptick last year when compared with figures from 2022, the transit system's police department reports. With a beefed-up police presence on board, BART officers have managed to make 726 felony arrests in 2023, a significant jump from the 448 arrests in the preceding year. Furthermore, their aggressive policing has led to the seizure of 49 illegal firearms in 2023, outstripping the 40 from 2022—marking a record since at least 2003.

In a statement obtained by BART, Police Chief Kevin Franklin praised his team, saying, "These latest arrest and gun seizure numbers are a credit to all the hard work of our officers." He continued, "Since we started deploying more patrol officers to ride trains we have seen an impact, and our riders are telling us they notice the difference." It seems this proactive approach is not going unnoticed by the public, as 20% of riders have reported sighting BART PD on their travels, reaching a record high and surpassing the department's official goal of 12%.

BART has thrown its weight behind the Safe and Clean Plan, setting its sights on boosting safety visibility and ramping up the cleaning staff for trains and stations. The push for safety appears to coincide with a broader drive to revitalize and reassure a public that may have been wary of public transport amid rising crime statistics.

To sustain this momentum, BART PD has dialed up their officer recruitment campaign with a full court press, sweetening the deal with a tempting 22% salary hike, as approved by the BART Board—the goal? To keep BART PD in the race with other law enforcement agencies vying for talent in the competitive Bay Area landscape. Aspiring candidates curious about donning the BART badge can get the lowdown at joinbartpd.com.