No action was taken at a meeting this week, but Interim Police Chief Jen Louis’s critics say the city should not even be discussing her confirmation until investigations into a texting scandal are resolved.
Alex N. Gecan
Alex N. Gecan joined Berkeleyside in 2023 as a senior reporter covering public safety. He has covered criminal justice, courts and breaking and local news for The Middletown Press, Stamford Advocate and Connecticut Post in Connecticut, Asbury Park Press on the Jersey Shore and the Marin Independent Journal.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Police Accountability Board asks Council to slow chief appointment
After more than two years as BPD’s interim chief, and with her confirmation on hold since November, the City Council discussed Jen Louis’s position in a closed session April 13.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Police ‘early intervention system’ sees first steps in Berkeley
Early intervention systems are meant to warn departments of troubling behavior or trends, from officer burnout to racial disparities in traffic stops and uses of force.
Posted inFire
Woolsey Street fire leaves home uninhabitable
One occupant was reportedly trapped on the third floor, but was able to escape by a ladder.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Blake Street parking lot assault: Attempted rape charges filed
Police say the 20-year-old suspect pinned a woman to the ground while sexually assaulting her in a Blake Street parking lot.
Posted inCity
Hopkins Street bike lane project delayed by staffing, safety concerns
Fueled by what officials have characterized as a staffing crisis in Berkeley’s Public Works Department, the Hopkins Street bike lane project presentation has been postponed indefinitely.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Update: Juvenile court charges filed in killing of Berkeley brothers at party
Jazy and Angel Sotelo Garcia were shot and killed at an Oct. 1 house party in North Oakland. Police said they’ve arrested two suspects in the killings, both of whom were juveniles at the time.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Understaffed Berkeley Police Department cuts patrol assignments
The Berkeley Police Department is cutting its number of patrol beats, years into a staffing crisis that has made it reliant on overtime to keep the teams populated.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Bayer says boiler alarm sounded Tuesday, no risk to public
Bayer has two alarms it regularly tests – a boiler alarm, which residents can always ignore, and an ammonia alarm, which they usually can. Bayer says there’s never been a harmful ammonia release from their Berkeley site.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley shooting: Suspect charged with elder abuse, assault, threats
Police said a man they arrested Sunday threw a 71-year-old victim down the stairs — twice — before the victim went to grab a gun, which went off as they struggled.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley’s 4th gunfire incident of 2023 ends in arrest
The gunfire itself did not injure anyone, but one victim did sustain non-life-threatening injuries in a dispute with the suspect, police said.
Posted inCity
Berkeley internet outages linger days after storm
Some Berkeley residents and students have gone days without internet access since Tuesday’s storm toppled dozens of trees and severed power lines.
