BART K9 sniffs out handgun, helping Oakland Police

On May 6, 2025, at around 5:30pm, BART Police K9 Baron sprang into action following a shooting near 14th Street and Broadway in Downtown Oakland. After the armed suspect fled the scene, Baron and his handler, BART Officer Saechao, came to the assistance of the Oakland Police Department. The pair tracked a blood trail for nearly one mile and recovered a handgun that was discarded out of plain sight in a flower planter box. 

Baron had recently completed a Canine Tracking Course thanks to Officer Saechao’s leadership enrolling his K9 and accompanying Baron to the course. At the planter box, Baron showed clear behavior that something related to the shooting was located there, and Officer Saechao accurately read the behavior. All BART K9s have undergone detection and patrol training, but Baron is the only one with tracking training. 

K9 Baron was rewarded for his great performance with treats and love. 

"It is truly remarkable Baron tracked the discarded weapon so far away, and BART is grateful to have Baron's talent on our team," said Kevin Franklin, BART Chief of Police.

BART Police use K9's to help patrol BART property, including responding to calls related to unattended packages and other circumstances.