Office of the Independent Police Auditor (OIPA)

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OIPA logo

BART Police Complaints, BPD Complaints, BART Police Officer Complaints

How to File a Complaint:

If you would like to file a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Auditor against a member of the BART Police Department, please call (510) 874-7477. You may also fill out a
complaint form  – see below. Although a form is not required to initiate a complaint, a completed form will contain much information that is needed to conduct a thorough investigation.

If you’re calling to make a complaint regarding BART District Personnel (non-police), please call (510) 464-6000. To contact the BART Police Department, please call (877) 679-7000.

Complaint Form

Download a complaint form (click here for a fillable pdf form), print the form then fill it out, and fax or email it to us, or you may fill out an online complaint form. Our contact information is listed below.

Complaint Process | OIPA Informational Brochure

Read our informational brochure (English) to find out what happens after you file a complaint. Brochures are also available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Braille brochures are available upon request.

OIPA Contact Information:

BART Office of the Independent Police Auditor
2150 Webster Street, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Mail: P.O. Box 12688, Oakland, CA 94612-2688
Phone: (510) 874-7477 | Fax: (510) 874-7475
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bart.gov/policeauditor

OIPA Staff

Russell G. Bloom, Independent Police Auditor
Patrick J. Caceres, Independent Police Investigator
Sarah Celso, Independent Police Administrator
Gianina Irlando, Stakeholder Engagement Administrator
S. Wyeth McAdam, Independent Police Investigator

Interpretive services are available by calling BART Language Assistance Services at (510) 464-6752.

You may also file a complaint with the BART Police Citizen Review Board by making a public comment at one of their meetings. Or you can file a complaint with the BART Police Department Office of Internal Affairs by calling (877) 679-7000 or by emailing [email protected]

Every individual regardless of religion, race, immigration or documentation status, or national origin should feel safe to seek and obtain assistance from OIPA. You can file a complaint if you are not a citizen and regardless of your immigration status.

Mission & Duties:

Mission Statement

It is OIPA's mission to provide all members of the public with effective and independent oversight of the BART Police Department by conducting unbiased and thorough independent investigations and reviews of police department investigations, making policy recommendations to improve the performance of the police department, and maintaining continual communication with members of the public in the BART service area.

Duties

As defined by the BART Citizen Oversight Model adopted by the BART Board of Directors, OIPA is charged with a number of specific duties. Among them are the following:

  • May accept and investigate any complaint of misconduct
  • Any person may file a complaint
  • Monitor and review BART Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau investigations
  • Provide a mediation option for resolving some complaints
  • Respond to the scene of officer-involved shooting incidents and monitor the ensuing BART Police Department investigation