In 7-2 vote, Berkeley council approves broad package to reimagine policing
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.
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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.
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.
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Officials vow to increase police staffing, with available officers at historic low
The pledge came amid a lengthy discussion on the annual crime report, use-of-force and police stop data, traffic collision statistics and more.
Berkeley looks at $7M earmark for expanded mental health services
Most of the money is for a new Specialized Care Unit that would respond instead of armed police to people in crisis.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
