Dee Williams-Ridley currently commutes to Berkeley from Sacramento.
Michael Meehan
Posted inCrime & Safety
BPD to hire officers, ‘take a collective deep breath’ under new chief
Capt. Andrew Greenwood — who is now the acting chief — at a BPD promotion ceremony in 2013 (file photo). Photo: Emilie Raguso Capt. Andrew Greenwood — who is now the acting chief — at a BPD promotion ceremony in 2013 (file photo). Photo: Emilie Raguso In the wake of the abrupt departure Tuesday of Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan, Acting Chief […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley police chief resigns; no reason provided
Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan said the public still has ample time to offer feedback. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan has resigned following reports surfaced by Berkeleyside last month of turmoil within the department and extensive criticism by officers of the chief. Meehan resigned after nearly seven years, and Capt. Andrew Greenwood will now take the […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
First 6 months of year see crime drop
2016 mid-year crime report. Source: BPD Crime is down in Berkeley this year, after it spiked in 2015 with the highest serious felony statistics since 2009. In the six-month crime report, set to go before the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday, Berkeley police authorities say overall Uniform Crime Report numbers were down 8.3% from January […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Officers question leadership of Berkeley police chief
Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan at a public meeting in 2014 related to changing the police beat map for the first time in many years. Meehan said in August that approach has not been working. Photo: Emilie Raguso More than six years after taking the helm of the Berkeley Police Department, Chief Michael Meehan is facing serious criticism […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board rejects school officer grant
The Berkeley Unified School District has one school resource officer. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Berkeley School Board said a resounding “no” to a proposal to add a second police officer to its campus roster during a discussion earlier this month about ways to address safety and racial tension on campus. The proposal, from Superintendent Donald Evans, […]
Posted inCommunity
Outpouring of concern for Berkeley ‘Toys for Tots’ brings in $8,400 in donations — so far
The 2014 Toys for Toys giveaway. Photo: Berkeley Police Association 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. Original story, Dec. 17: Less than 14 hours after the Berkeley Police Association […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley ‘Toys for Tots’ needs community help after donations fall through
The 2014 Toys for Toys giveaway. Photo: Berkeley Police Association 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. Update, 8:15 p.m. The Berkeley Police Association has set up a GoFundMe account to […]
Posted inCity, Crime & Safety
‘Unconstitutional police attacks’ in December Berkeley protests spur civil rights lawsuit
Lawyers Rachel Lederman and James Chanin (left) and plaintiffs Joseph Watkins, Moni Law, Rasheed Shabazz and Cindy Pincus during the Monday press conference in front of Berkeley Police headquarters. Photo: Lance Knobel Lawyers Rachel Lederman and James Chanin (left) and plaintiffs Joseph Watkins, Moni Law, Rasheed Shabazz and Cindy Pincus during the Monday press conference in front of Berkeley […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley police chief says Tasers would help his officers
Berkeley Police Chief Meehan 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. It was the first time Meehan has taken a stand on the issue in a high-profile public forum, though he said he had made similar comments […]
Posted inCity, Crime & Safety, Housing & Development
Capitelli says he didn’t get commission from house sale for Meehan, but will donate fee he was paid
Councilman Capitelli. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley City Councilman Laurie Capitelli said Monday that he never served as the real estate agent for Police Chief Michael Meehan’s home purchase and never split a nearly $30,000 commission for the deal, contrary to what was reported Friday by the Bay Area News Group. When Meehan went looking to buy a home […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley councilman Laurie Capitelli profited from $500,000 housing loan given to police chief, paper says
Laurie Capitelli at Espresso Roma, Berkeley, CA, Oct. 10, 2012. Photo: Emilie Raguso Update, Oct. 5: Councilman Laurie Capitelli issued a statement Monday to clarify his role in the purchase of a home by Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan in 2010 following a City Council vote the prior year to loan the chief money toward the purchase. […]