BART’s police department has launched a chaplaincy program, and four new chaplains are being sworn in this afternoon in Oakland.
The chaplains, all volunteers, will serve as a link between community members and officers and as a resource for spiritual guidance and counseling, BART officials said.
They will also respond to traumatic events to support crime victims.
“Chaplaincy programs are not uncommon in police departments,” BART spokesman Linton Johnson said.
Johnson said the new team is another resource to help deal with emotional events.
The four chaplains, who are from diverse backgrounds, won’t be paid but will don BART police uniforms with chaplain insignias while on duty.
The swearing-in was scheduled for noon at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission offices at 101 Eighth St. in Oakland.
