People of BART PD

CALEA Certification

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Chief of Police - Kevin Franklin

BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin portrait

Born in Oakland, a life-long BART-rider and Bay Area resident, Kevin Franklin was appointed as Chief of Police on October 2, 2023. Kevin began his law enforcement career in 1989 at the Oakland Police Department. After transferring to the BART Police Department in 1996, Kevin had the opportunity to work in a variety of assignments as a BART Police Officer including patrol, SWAT, Honor Guard, data analysis, and was involved as an instructor for many of the subjects in the Department’s training programs.

Promoted to Deputy Chief in 2020, Kevin was assigned to lead the Operations Bureau for the majority of his time as a Deputy Chief. As a Lieutenant, Kevin worked as a member of the Department’s Command Staff at a time where the Department implemented sweeping changes as the result of reforms which resulted from the tragic death of Oscar Grant. While serving as the District’s Manager of Security Programs from 2011 through 2018, Kevin worked to implement smart security strategies and provided leadership for infrastructure hardening efforts throughout the BART District. As a recognized leader in transit security, Kevin is involved with the American Public Transit Association where he assists with development of recommended practices for securing transit systems in the United States and Canada.

Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in Criminal Justice from California Coast University. Additionally, Kevin is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy (Session 236) and the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Policing.

Outside of work Kevin gives back to the community through volunteer work with local youth programs including Scouting.

Deputy Chief - Gina Galetti

On January 3, 2022, Gina Galetti was appointed by Chief Edgardo Alvarez to the permanent position of Deputy Chief after serving as the Interim Deputy Chief of the Support Services Bureau.

Deputy Chief Galetti has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, serving with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department, and Sutter County Sheriff’s Department, prior to coming to BART Police in 2010. Gina’s passion for law enforcement began in 2001 when she was a young single mother seeking a career which would help her support her family.

Deputy Chief Galetti has held a variety of assignments throughout her career including animal control officer, Field Training Officer (FTO), internal affairs, CERT team, background investigator, FTO Sergeant, Recruit Training Officer, and Administrative Sergeant. These assignments and leadership roles helped develop her into a strong leader with a unique perspective and a focus on employee wellness.

In November 2018, Gina was promoted to BART Police Lieutenant where in addition to working as a patrol watch commander, she was selected to be the first San Mateo County Zone Commander. In this position, she focused on interdepartmental and external relationships by collaborating with neighboring agencies and stakeholders to improve conditions at the end of the line BART stations and throughout the system. Deputy Chief Galetti led safety demonstrations and presented at many neighborhood meetings, increasing connectivity and safety between BART, local businesses and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Deputy Chief Galetti recognized the need to improve the health and safety of all BART Police employees and to align the department with 21st century policing practices. In 2020, Deputy Chief Galetti spearheaded and later implemented the department’s first Peer Support Team to ensure all employees’ wellness needs were being met. In addition, Deputy Chief Galetti has also managed different mentorship programs, organized physical training regiments for employees, partnered with community groups to organize community safety and training opportunities and participated in fun runs with a focus on law enforcement and community engagement.

Deputy Chief - Joshua Patzer

On February 21, 2023, Joshua Patzer was sworn in by Chief Ed Alvarez as the new Deputy Police Chief. Chief Alvarez appointed Joshua Patzer as the Deputy Chief of the Personnel and Training Bureau.

Before his appointment, Joshua served over 22 years with the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff. Joshua began his law enforcement career in 2000 by attending the Los Medanos Police Academy. He worked in various assignments, including Custody Services, Court Security, Transportation, Civil / Warrant Services Unit, Office of Emergency Services, County Patrol, SWAT, Mutual Aid Mobile Field Force, Honor Guard, and Investigations. He is a certified Academy Instructor. He has taught Firearms, riot, crowd control, Mutual Aid Mobile Field Force Operations, and Use of Force Simulators.

Joshua was honorably discharged as a Sergeant / E-5 from the United States Marine Corps. in 1998.

Joshua has a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Union Institute and University. He has attended the Sherman Block Leadership Institute, the POST Command College, and the POST Executive Leadership course. He was the Managers’ Representative on the Deputy Sheriffs Association Board of Directors. He has his Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisors, and Management POST Certification.

Joshua enjoys time with his family, camping, traveling, and boating when he is not at work.

Deputy Chief - Ja'Son Scott

On November 7, 2022, Ja’Son Scott was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief of Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau by Chief Alvarez. Prior to his promotion Ja’Son served as the Personnel and Training Lieutenant for two years, helping to recruit hundreds of BART Police Department candidates.

Ja’Son began his law enforcement career in 1999 with the Oakland Police Department after graduating from the Oakland Police Department’s 142nd Basic Recruit Academy. While at Oakland P.D. Ja’Son worked as a school resource officer, Field Training Officer (FTO), motor officer and traffic investigator. In 2012, Ja’Son transferred to the BART Police Department holding a variety of assignments including COPPS Sergeant, watch commander and zone commander.

Ja’Son has a Master's of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from National University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Hayward.

When not working, Ja’Son enjoys time with his family, playing basketball and cheering for the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

CIVILIAN DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS

Manager of Accreditation - Matthew Cromer

Matthew Cromer was appointed to the position of Manager of Accreditation on March 16, 2015. Born and raised in Contra Costa County, Matt began his career in Law Enforcement as a police explorer with the City of Concord where he was recognized for numerous volunteer hours and the monetary savings of those hours to residents. Matt then became a police intern, followed by being sworn in as a Concord police officer in June 1998. Matt came to BART in April 2000 as a police officer and has since served in various capacities over his 20 years with the BART District.

In 2015, the BART Police Department sought to become an internationally accredited law enforcement agency. Matt was appointed to achieve an Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This project took three years to complete to move the agency into compliance with nearly 400 recognized standards. In May 2018, BART PD became one of only six percent of law enforcement agencies in the United States to achieve accreditation through CALEA, and only one of 17 at the time in the State of California.

Today, Matt works to maintain and refine BART PD’s accreditation program, which is subject to annual audits by the accreditor. Additionally, work is done to meet compliance with new standards which are developed by the accreditor in a progressive landscape.

Matt holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Management from California State University, East Bay. Matt is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police held at Boston University.

Matt is the president of the California Police Accreditation Coalition, a non-profit established to promote public safety accreditation as a method to increase the level of professionalism among law enforcement and public safety agencies throughout California and beyond.