Berkeley Police Department is currently seeking funding and training from UASI (Urban Areas Security Initiative- a Homeland Security program that trains local police departments in urban warfare.) Berkeley Police are now trying to buy a giant armored vehicle that will be used to suppress protests and terrorize demonstrators. According to their grant application, they intend to share this tank-like vehicle with UC Berkeley Police and Albany Police. Berkeley Police have already come under criticism for their conduct at UCB and Oakland Occupy protests. Without increased accountability, BPD risks becoming a department that is not only out of control, but very heavily armed.

The Berkeley Police Review Commission has been effectively rendered incapable of holding BPD officers accountable for their actions. Until the City Council and the people of Berkeley rewrite the ordinance establishing civilian oversight of the police, it is truly dangerous to give them even more war material with which to suppress dissent.

The Berkeley Municipal Code requires that Police Department (PD) Agreements be reduced to writing and presented to the City Council for approval. The council has a real choice in the matter!

The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) program encourages police “spying’ on persons involved in non-criminal behaviors: taking a photo of a building, buying fertilizer, wearing a headscarf or turban, and then sending a Suspicious Activity Report to NCRIC.

1) We demand that the City Council reject pacts with NCRIC*, the Spying program, and UASI. These programs are set to expire June 30, 2012.

2) We also demand that the Berkeley PD not respond to mutual aid requests for purely First Amendment activities and not respond to, or request aid from jurisdictions that use brutal tactics and/or so-called non-lethal weapons. And of course, no armored vehicles.

FOR INFO CONTACT BERKELEY COPWATCH 510-548-0425 or berkeleycopwatch@yahoo.com

We Don’t Need a Tank! We Need Police Accountability! Say NO to Mutual Aid
Pacts with Federal Agencies!

STOP THE FEDERALIZATION OF BERKELEY POLICE
BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY MAY 15, 2012
6pm Rally on the steps of City Hall
(MLK and Center Street)

Come and Speak out at the Tuesday May 15, 2012 City Council, 7pm Old City Hall
at 2134 M.L. King Jr. Way, Berkeley.

Berkeley is violating its own laws! The Berkeley Municipal Code requires that
Police Department (PD) Agreements be reduced to writing and presented to the
City Council for approval.

NCRIC*, the Spying program, and UASI**, the urban warfare program, are merely
verbal agreements coordinated with the FBI and Homeland Security. These
programs expire June 30, 2012. Being in violation of local law they must not be
renewed or allowed to continue without Council action.

*The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center program encourages police
“spying’ on persons involved in non-criminal behaviors: taking a photo of a
building, buying fertilizer, wearing a headscarf or turban, and then sending a
Suspicious Activity Report to NCRIC.
**The Urban Areas Security Initiative, through Urban Shield conducts urban
warfare exercises with local police departments.

Also ask that the Berkeley PD not respond to mutual aid requests for purely
First Amendment activities and not respond to, or request aid from
jurisdictions that use brutal tactics and/or so-called non-lethal weapons.

For more information about the killing and the vigil, please see:

www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/10/18713300.php

According to The Oakland Tribune, the 19 year old ran when police approached him, and they suspected he had a gun. This part of the story is interesting as well:

“The officer was also shot in the confrontation, but officials said they could not confirm Sunday whether he had been shot by the suspect or if he had accidentally shot himself as he drew his gun.”

For the full story, see:

www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_20561314/oakland-cop-suspect-wounded-sunday

We had some good numbers out in the  streets from May Day morning to May Day night–and saw broad daylight police Tasering of protestors, to the forewarned “surgical arrests”, to the Alameda County sheriff’s department lined up with their assault rifles, to the sickeningly brutal front line police charges on Broadway that rushed and tackled protestors and nabbed at least one of us while filming and hauled us off to jail. We had new copwatchers in the streets that showed solid bravery, endurance, and camera savvy, as well as veteran copwatchers refusing to be bullied by the numerous agencies (Union City Police? What were you doing rushing down the Oakland sidewalks in full riot gear?)

We could have used more numbers with cameras–as actions in San Francisco were left unwitnessed by our team, and at least one team was broken up with members left isolated following the 9:30pm arrests on Broadway.  But overall, we ran a strong, responsible, and fluid monitoring patrol that covered lots of ground throughout the day, supported by an excellent dispatcher. Great job copwatchers and solidarity to Occupy and all May Day protestors!

Come by our weekly meeting tomorrow at 7pm at the Grassroots House and compare notes on positions and what we saw, and plan for the next actions and sign up for neighborhood shifts. See you there.

And, from Dave Id, check out his piece on crowd control violations this May Day, including footage of OPD’s motorcycle “BUMPing” ….Judge Thelton Henderson, we’re counting on you to be watching:

www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/04/18712886.php

Also, if you haven’t seen the massive Alameda County sheriff’s armored vehicle “Grizzly”, see Anonymous’ photo at:  http://twitter.com/#!/YourAnonNews/status/197459134013120512 )

Excellent video and commentary posted by Copwatcher on IndyBay. Have any of the targets for surgical arrests already been identified? From the Oscar Grant protest cordons, to the Moving Day chemical deployments, does this rush-and-snatch policy indicate a more individualizing approach to crowd control from OPD Chief Howard Jordan?

All of seven officers are on paid leave for the Taser and beating death of an unarmed man, while the Mayor is in favor of a “resolution that will calm the community”. Community pressure remains the most effective site for accountability. For the full story, see:

rt.com/usa/news/cops-paid-chicago-north-977/

–
Call the Oscar Grant Committee at 510-239-3570 and visit us at www.oscargrantcommittee.weebly.com.