Police

Mountain lion calls swamp police, including 911 calls

September 2, 2010 10:23 am by Lance Knobel

The shooting of the Gourmet Ghetto mountain lion has provoked enormous debate here on Berkeleyside. It has also generated a wave of calls to the Berkeley Police Department.

According to Sergeant Mary Kusmiss, the BPD public information officer, many calls have expressed “gratitude and sadness”, but there has also been “outrage” and “many whys”.

There has also been “screaming abuse and name calling”, as well as “a whole myriad of other creative ideas and commentary”.

The problem for the police is that many of the calls have come in on their emergency number.

“The City of Berkeley Police Department is not unaccustomed to being scrutinized,” said Kusmiss. “We all serve and protect and must strive to gain the public’s trust. We would strongly request, however, that community members and others do not call 911 to share their feedback. This practice has created an impact on the BPD Communications Center and fellow community members who may be calling to report crime.”

The BPD’s non-emergency number is 510-981-5900.

7 Comments

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  • Jane Tierney

    It is unfortunate the police were put in this difficult and thankless position. This issue is nothing new. Information about wildlife encroachment has been topical in Berkeley for the last six months:
    http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/05/21/berkeleyans-advised-please-dont-feed-the-wildlife/

  • http://trampleasure.net/lee Lee Trampleasure

    This practice has created an impact on the BPD Communications Center and fellow community members who may be calling to report crime. … or other medical/fire emergency.

    It’s amazing what people think they can use 911 for. Perhaps we should create an “811″ or similar easy to remember phone number for local police NON-emergencies.

  • EBGuy

    Perhaps we should create an … easy to remember phone number
    Well, to report current drug or prostitution activity, you can call THE-COPS (843-2677).

  • http://trampleasure.net/lee Lee Trampleasure

    THE-COPS is handy, but my point is to create a phone number that would work everywhere, just like 911 and 411. Clearly not something that can be done by Berkeleyside readers/writers, but maybe something annoyed police departments could push for…

    Of course, then there’s the cell-phone problem–making sure that a phone call from a cell phone goes to the local police department.

  • Peggy

    From a cellphone when you dial 911 it is automatically put through to CHP. My teenager and I both have the Berkeley Police 911 (Emergency) number programmed into our cell phones 981-5911. Calling 981-5911 direct is the way to get through to BPD emergency.

    There is also a non-emergency number at BPD.

  • Jonathan Badger

    Shouldn’t the swamp police be dealing with more bog-related inquiries? And those by humans rather than by wildlife? Do any of the swamp police staff even speak mountain lion?

  • http://www.felidaefund.org Ally – Felidae Conservation Fund

    Announcement of East Bay Mountain Lion Community Meetings:

    Wednesday, September 15, 7:30pm at Live Oak Park in North Berkeley — Recreation Center, Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

    Wednesday, October 6, 7:00pm at the Oakland Zoo — Marian Zimmer Auditorium, Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland

    Felidae Conservation Fund will be holding two public community meetings to discuss the Mountain Lion Incident on August 31 in North Berkeley.

    Zara McDonald, Executive Director of Felidae, will talk about mountain lions in the Bay Area and provide perspective on the growing concerns about public safety. She will also discuss the research and educational work currently underway in the Bay Area Puma Project, the first major study of pumas in the Bay Area.

    Additional participating organizations for the North Berkeley event include LOCCNA, Oakland Zoo, ‘Close to Home’ Lecture Series, and other supporting organizations.

    These meetings will also offer the opportunity for community members to share thoughts and concerns regarding mountain lions and this incident.

    COMMENTS
    If you have questions, please email info@felidaefund.org or visit our website at http://www.felidaefund.org.