OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) -- Kenton Rainey was sworn in as the chief of the BART Police Department on Thursday, officially taking over a post he has held for several weeks.

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown did the honors, delivering the oath to an old friend who takes the helm of the 296-member department as the city anxiously awaits a verdict in the murder trial of one of its former officers, Johannes Mehserle.

"I recognize these are very challenging and difficult times for us as a district," Rainey said.

The 51-year-old's boss as Fairfield Police Chief, former Mayor Harry Price, praised the equilibrium Rainey's demeanor would bring during what has been a tumultuous period for the transit agency.

"He is a leader who knows how to bring people together," Price said.

Rainey said the BART Police Department would continue to work with other local police agencies to ensure there was qualm should the Los Angeles jurors now hearing closing arguments bring back an unpopular verdict.[pullquote quote="I recognize these are very challenging and difficult times for us as a district." credit="BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey"]

His predecessor, Gary Gee, retired as protests rocked Oakland over the shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Years Day 2009.