Charter change would put Berkeley police oversight into citizen hands (but whose?)
The Berkeley City Council is slated to vote Tuesday on whether to place a controversial police oversight charter amendment on the November ballot.
The Berkeley City Council is slated to vote Tuesday on whether to place a controversial police oversight charter amendment on the November ballot.
The push to give the PRC more authority over the police department is unneeded and unwarranted in Berkeley, which has an excellent department. Stop this misplaced zealotry.
Concerned about low staffing, the BPA wants money to attract more recruits. But with the crime rate low, Berkeley would be safer if it redirected resources to social programs.
Berkeley police staffing levels have reached a crisis point, and the entire traffic bureau along with some investigative positions may be on the chopping block in early 2018.
Berkeley first responders have launched the 2017 Toys for Tots holiday gift program, and are asking for the community's help to pull it off.
Nearly two dozen officers were recognized Thursday by the Berkeley Police Association for exceptional service, lifesaving efforts and more.
Berkeley firefighters are looking for volunteers Saturday to help them stuff 800 grocery bags with food and deliver them to some of Berkeley’s elderly for the holidays. (Berkeley police are also looking for donations of toys. See below.)
This weekend, Berkeley firefighters are raising money for muscular dystrophy research, and Berkeley police are collecting donations for holiday turkey baskets for those in need.
The political action committee of the National Association of Realtors has poured $92,486 into the Berkeley election in recent weeks, with almost two-thirds of that going to support Laurie Capitelli in his race for mayor.
Update, Dec. 18: The Berkeley Police Association has closed its fundraising campaign because it more than exceeded its goals. The drive for Toys for Tots garnered $11,114 from 193 people in one day.
Update 12/18: The Berkeley Police Association has closed its fundraising campaign because it more than exceeded its goals. The drive for Toys for Tots garnered $11,114 from 193 people in one day.
I recently received a very unsettling fundraising letter from the Berkeley Police Association (BPA). The second paragraph, with my italics, reads: “Today as I ask for your continued support of our community mission, we are mindful of the unprecedented wave of violence against our fellow officers in Ferguson, Baltimore, New York and especially the execution murder of a Texas Sheriff’s deputy…”
Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan told the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday night he believes his officers should be granted the option to carry Tasers, which are not currently allowed under city policy.
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