The BART Office of the Inspector General (OIG) completed an investigation into eight allegations of retaliation reported by two individuals who assisted in an OIG fraud investigation.

To preserve the independence and integrity of the investigation, the OIG retained an external investigator. After interviewing 17 individuals, reviewing written statements and relevant records, making observations, and assessing credibility, the investigator did not substantiate the eight allegations.

The investigation also encountered a limitation: two BART executives central to the investigation declined to participate in interviews and instead provided written responses. This limited the investigator’s ability to assess credibility, ask follow-up questions, and complete the full fact-finding process

The investigation also resulted in action to clarify the OIG’s authority. The BART Audit Committee approved a motion to update the District’s Whistleblower and Anti-Retaliation Policy, which is currently being amended.

We encourage you to review the summary video and full report for detailed insights.

Whistleblower Retaliation Investigation Results & Importance.pdf

Thank you for your continued interest in our work. For access to all BART Office of the Inspector General reports, please visit our website at www.bart.gov/oig.

Sincerely,

Claudette Biemeret
Inspector General
Email: InspectorGeneral@bart.gov
Phone: 510-464-6141