Thursday’s vote was a budget referral: The package will come back in June so officials can decide what will actually be funded in the coming years.
Police staffing
Posted inCity
Officials say yes to ‘new vision of public safety’ — and more cops, too
“When we work together as a whole community we can make real progress,” Mayor Jesse Arreguín said Thursday.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Open patrol beats are the biggest driver of police officer overtime, audit finds
Security work for outside entities, such as UC Berkeley, the Apple store and other Fourth Street businesses, made up 10% of the overtime costs in FY20.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley 911 center plagued by low morale, $1M in overtime, city audit finds
911 calls to Berkeley’s police and fire dispatch center are taking longer to get through due to chronic understaffing that is only likely to get worse, the city auditor reported in a recent analysis.
Posted inCrime & Safety
As staffing crisis continues for Berkeley police, officers who left reveal why
Veteran officers have been leaving the department in record numbers, walking away from friends and generous benefits to start over at other agencies. What has driven the exodus?
Posted inCrime & Safety
More than 80% of Berkeley officers have looked to leave BPD, cop union says
Available Berkeley police staffing is down to 135 officers, and 80% of the department is investigating whether to leave, a Berkeley Police Association rep said Monday night.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Latest Berkeley crime stats show 23% increase in violence in 2017
Violent crime reports in Berkeley rose 23% over the first half of 2017, as compared to the prior year, according to public safety data just released by the FBI.
Posted inCity
Chief: Berkeley police face ‘a deepening staffing crisis’
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.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley’s new ‘top cop’ says public trust is top priority
Described as a “homegrown leader” with a deep grasp of Berkeley values, “native son” Andrew Greenwood was appointed to the role of police chief Tuesday night.
Posted inCrime & Safety
BPD to hire officers, ‘take a collective deep breath’ under new chief
In the wake of the abrupt departure Tuesday of Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan, Acting Chief Andrew Greenwood says his short-term goals are to hire more officers and keep the department focused on the future. “Calm, steady, forward movement is the way to go,” Greenwood told the city’s Police Review Commission on Wednesday night. “That’s kind of where I’m at.” Greenwood […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Officers question leadership of Berkeley police chief
More than six years after taking the helm of the Berkeley Police Department, Chief Michael Meehan is facing serious criticism from within his own ranks, according to two internal emails he sent to employees earlier this month and numerous interviews with BPD staffers. The criticisms focus on weak leadership, low morale, insufficient staffing and inconsistent communication. They were spelled out in surveys […]
Posted inCommunity, Crime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley Police beats could get much bigger
A handful of community members got a preview Tuesday night of three possible alternatives for a new Berkeley Police beat map, which ultimately will determine how officers are deployed around the city. Bigger beats and the potential creation of a small “flex unit” to address hot spots or crime trends are among the ideas under consideration, which are still […]