BART Police Citizen Review Board to hear use of force report Monday
BART Police - File Photo
OAKLAND, Calif. (BCN) - The BART Police Citizen Review Board is slated to meet in Oakland Monday afternoon, and the police department's annual use of force report is on the agenda.
The board is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. in the BART boardroom at the Kaiser Center at 2040 Webster St.
BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas is slated to give a report on the effect of pending internal investigations on promotional opportunities for police personnel, as well as the annual use of force report, according to the board agenda.
The use of force by BART officers has been in the headlines this year.
In January, BART police officer Joseph Mateu shot Sahleem Tindle three times in the back, killing him at the West Oakland BART station. Tindle's family is pursuing a lawsuit against BART police and Mateu with prominent civil rights attorney John Burris.
Oakland police investigators said shortly after the shooting that Tindle was armed while he was grappling with another man on the sidewalk and refused commands when Mateu shot him.
Rojas said in a press conference on Feb. 21 that he believes a video of the shooting released by police indicates that Tindle didn't have his hands up when Mateu shot him.
Statements by at-large position applicants are also on the agenda for the meeting. The board is recruiting a public at-large appointee, with the application period closing Monday.
Other matters on Monday's agenda include the department's media communications and informational policy, as well as the independent police auditor's report for April and May.
Members of the board work to increase the public's confidence in BART's policing services by reviewing, recommending and monitoring changes to police policies, procedures and practices, receiving citizen allegations of on-duty police misconduct and advising the BART board, general manager, independent police auditor and police chief, among other duties.