Officer Michael Zendejas, a leader of BART's police union, sent a message this week to other law enforcement officers asking for donations toward bail. The message, sent through a police training group, said Mehserle's "immediate family has come up with the majority of the funds, but they are roughly $45,000 short."

Jesse Sekhon, president of the BART Police Officers Association, said Zendejas had sent the plea without union approval. Efforts to reach Zendejas were unsuccessful.