Police Chief Michael Meehan

In response to Berkeleyside’s May 29 article, “Poll: Police Chief’s reputation tarnished, not department,” in which we summarized the results of a reader poll about Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan, Pastor Leslie R. White of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Berkeley has written an open letter of support for the chief. “Good people, who work hard, will make mistakes and sometimes apparent non-thinking acts. I hold that the Police Chief’s reputation is not tarnished, though this year, 2012, has proven he is not flawless,” he writes. Read his full letter published in our Opinionator section.

Berkeleyside welcomes submissions of op-ed articles of 500 to 800 words. We ask that we are given first refusal to publish. Topics should be Berkeley-related and local authors are preferred. Please email submissions to us. Berkeleyside will publish op-ed pieces at its discretion.