Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas announced Friday that he is leaving the department after 27 years to take the helm as the first Latino top cop of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system.
Rojas was expected to become chief of the rail transit system’s police department late next month or in early June, BART officials said. Rojas must still clear psychological exams and a background check, which takes about a month.
BART runs numerous subway and above-ground trains throughout the San Francisco bay area.
Rojas called it a “privilege” to serve in Santa Ana’s department since he joined it as an officer in 1990.
“I have dedicated my life’s work to public service and will always cherish the relationships and experiences with the community to improve public safety,” Rojas said. “I’m confident that members of the Santa Ana Police Department will continue to strengthen their partnerships with the community to provide the most professional police services possible.”
Rojas added it was an “honor” to be picked for BART’s police chief.
“I’m excited and humbled to have been selected to lead such a progressive police department,” Rojas said.
BART officials noted that Rojas is “not only an advocate but also an educator in Community Oriented Policing practices.” Rojas has trained law enforcement officers in community policing in Central America as well as on college campuses, officials said.
“The police department has been moving in the right direction, and I am confident that our new chief will accelerate our efforts to increase the visibility of police officers on our trains and in our stations,” said BART General Manager Grace Crunican. “I have asked the new chief to focus attention on our police recruitment practices to ensure the department is able to hire a full complement of officers.”
Rojas earned a master’s degree in criminal justice at Chapman University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cal State Long Beach.
— City News Service