Police and firefighters will continue participating in Urban Shield for a year while a subcommittee considers alternatives. The decision prompted outrage from a packed room.
Urban Areas Security Initiative
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: It’s long past time — take us out of Urban Shield and NCRIC
There is no excuse for this City Council not to do what the council should have done a year and a half ago: take us out of Urban Shield and NCRIC.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Berkeley should support emergency preparedness and response by saying no to Urban Shield
Urban Shield’s racist, ‘warrior cop’ nature stands in clear contradiction with Berkeley’s values; pulling the city out should be a no-brainer based on that alone.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Sign up now for new ‘most essential’ city of Berkeley emergency alerts
The city of Berkeley has just launched a new disaster alert system set to replace the old way of spreading the word about emergencies.
Posted inCity
Council puts off Urban Shield vote
In a late-night move that sparked ire in the crowd, council announced it would postpone its vote on whether to continue to participate in the controversial Urban Shield program.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Urban Shield — A toxic intermingling of public health and safety with anti-terrorism and eternal war.
The sooner Berkeley rejects Urban Shield’s message by ending its participation, the sooner better training modalities which reflect our values will come into being.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Cry terrorism — Berkeley must say no to Urban Shield
Under the guise of “fighting terrorism” we’ve been tricked into another overreaction and Urban Shield is not needed by the Berkeley Police department.
Posted inCity
The Lowdown: Council on police grants, budget, infrastructure, more
Don’t miss our guide to May 16 council highlights: federal funding and an armored van for police that’s been disputed by activists, infrastructure updates, the Library Board, more.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: BPD and Urban Shield — not a clear-cut decision
Participation in a program that ensures the highest level of training is acquired by our first responders is a no-brainer, but there are some parts to skip.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Muslim college hosts active-shooter drill for paramedics, Berkeley police
Scores of paramedics and police met Thursday at a Muslim college in North Berkeley to practice how they might respond if gunmen one day target the campus.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Berkeley as sanctuary city – there is more to do!
We live in an age of surveillance. We can no longer afford to bury our heads in the sand and hope that benign actors in local, state or alphabet-soup federal agencies will do the right thing.
Posted inCity
Armored van for police sparks public outcry from some
Berkeley police are planning to purchase this van, with help from a federal grant. They say the vehicle will help keep officers and the public safe. Photo: BPD In a 7-1 vote Tuesday night, the Berkeley City Council approved plans presented by the police chief to buy a bulletproof van it says will keep officers and […]