Please post widely

The letter originated from someone who works for BART as a senior planner. Please post it widely.

Hey,

I know you have heard about the shooting death of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer.  Did you know that BART police have been accused of using excessive and unnecessary force in two other shooting deaths in the past? And that BART has resisted creating a civilian oversight board to provide public accountability?

We can do something about that. Click the link below to learn about Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and State Senator Leland Yee's efforts to create a civilian oversight board, and join me, the Courage Campaign and Color of Change in signing a letter in support of their proposed law -- and to demand that they pass the strongest bill possible:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/NeverAgain

The officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant must be held accountable. But that alone will not ensure this never happens to any other BART rider again.

We all need to talk to our family and friends about the importance of bringing accountability to the BART police to ensure this tragedy never happens again.

That is why I am asking you to sign this letter in support of Ammiano and Yee's bill, and help build the progressive movement for justice in California.

Thanks. 

BART officer arrested

BART officer arrested in connection with New Year's Day shooting

Demian Bulwa, Leslie Fulbright,Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writers

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

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(01-13) 21:36 PST Oakland -- Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man on an Oakland train platform on New Year's Day, was arrested in Nevada today in connection with the shooting, The Chronicle has learned.

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Mehserle, 27, was taken into custody in Douglas County, Nevada, said Deputy Steve Velez of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The arrest was also confirmed by David Chai, chief of staff to Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums.

Mehserle was arrested in connection with an investigation by the Oakland Police Department into the shooting of Oscar Grant, 22. An Alameda County judge signed an arrest warrant, and Mehserle surrendered without incident, authorities said.

Douglas County sheriff's officials refused to disclose what crime Mehserle was accused of committing in the arrest warrant. Deputy Velez said Sheriff Ron P. Pierini would make a statement on Wednesday.

Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff was also expected to announce details of the arrest Wednesday.

Efforts to reach attorneys for Mehserle were unsuccessful.

The arrest comes on the eve of a scheduled protest at 4 p.m. Wednesday outside Oakland City Hall, the latest in a series of demonstrations in which BART has been accused of mishandling the shooting investigation.

On Monday, BART police turned over the results of their preliminary investigation to Orloff's office. The separate investigation by Oakland police was launched last week. The state Attorney General is also monitoring the case.

BART officers had detained Grant and several other passengers at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 1 as they investigated a fight aboard a train from San Francisco.

Grant was lying face-down when Mehserle pulled his service weapon from his holster and fired one shot into his back.

Mehserle resigned last Wednesday rather than answer questions from BART investigators.

His departure came the same day Grant was buried and a peaceful protest at the Fruitvale BART Station erupted into violence in downtown Oakland. Demonstrators set cars on fire and broke windows at dozens of businesses. By night's end, police arrested 105 people.

Chronicle Staff Writers Jaxon Van Derbeken and christopher heredia contributed to this report.