The suspect, an apartment tenant, told police he believed the worker he’d shot was a burglar, but the two men had met five days earlier during a different repair job, police said.
Policing
Posted inCrime & Safety
BPD investigates 2nd shooting in as many days
Police investigated a shooting in South Berkeley a day after another incident in the Southside.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley resident shoots maintenance worker, mistaking him for a burglar, police say
The tenant made a maintenance request that would have allowed the worker to enter his apartment if nobody was home, police said.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Consumer privacy pro tapped for Berkeley Police Accountability Board
The board — understaffed in recent months, with work piling up — would have two-thirds of its regular positions filled if Brent Blackaby is confirmed Tuesday.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley’s mental health crisis team, at 510-948-0075, expands hours
As of Sept. 11, the Specialized Care Unit has expanded to seven-day-a-week service, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Posted inCrime & Safety
In Berkeley police off-duty lawsuit, public agencies keep silent
The man accusing a BPD sergeant of a racist attack in July 2022 filed a claim notice in January of this year with the city of Berkeley. It is unclear who, if anyone, knew about the allegations before then. The city’s own civilian police watchdog agency didn’t hear about it until Tuesday.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Off-duty Berkeley police sergeant punched, aimed gun at Black man while screaming racial slurs, lawsuit claims
Sgt. David Marble is accused of attacking the man just for visiting his neighborhood in Antioch — telling him and the friend he was visiting “you all do not belong here” and “I am the law,” according to a federal civil suit.
Posted inCity
Berkeley police ask for $25K hiring bonuses for officers
The incentives are projected to cost $307,500, according to City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley. Other Bay Area police departments have offered bonuses at similar rates.
Posted inCrime & Safety
ACLU says Berkeley’s plan to install license plate readers threatens residents’ privacy
Privacy advocates say the mass surveillance cameras — meant to deter auto thefts and other crimes — will endanger activists, religious minorities and those seeking reproductive health care they can’t get elsewhere.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley officials slam ‘drips of information’ in BPD text investigation
Councilmember Harrison said it breeds mistrust for the city manager’s office to make broad claims about the investigation’s findings but not make them public.
Posted inPolice
City says probe into leaked BPD texts found no ‘practice of racial bias’ or arrest quotas
Most details of the investigation, conducted by city-hired outside lawyers, will remain confidential. The police sergeant at the heart of the probe remains on leave but will return to work soon.
Posted inCity
Berkeley’s $729M budget puts a pause on police reform programs
Advocates say they fear Berkeley is abandoning its vision for public safety. Officials say they still want to create departments of community safety and transportation, among other reforms, once the citywide staffing crisis abates.
