Report slams San Francisco transit officers’ response before unarmed man’s fatal shooting

Report slams BART officers prior to fatal shooting

OAKLAND, Calif. — San Francisco transit officers failed to follow procedures and to work as a team when they responded to reports of fighting on a train, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The report was conducted by the Oakland law firm of Meyers Nave, which was hired by Bay Area Rapid Transit to conduct an independent investigation into the New Year’s Day shooting of an unarmed man by a transit officer.

During the incident, Oscar Grant, 22, was shot dead after he and his friends were pulled off the train.

Former BART officer Johannes Mehserle has been charged with murder in the case. His defense attorney said he intended to use his stun gun, not fire his handgun, to try to restrain Grant.

BART board member Carole Ward Allen said it would use the report’s findings to improve the transit system’s security policies.