“A UC Berkeley police officer and a Berkeley police officer will each team up in two squad cars to patrol the streets from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. More teams will be out before and after home football games.
Violence, sexual assault, and homicides have taken place on the south side of campus in recent years. Between fall of 2008 and February 2009, a man, who was never caught, sexually assaulted 19 women when he approached them from behind and lifted their skirts. Last month, 21-year-old Nicholas Bailey was found dead in a parking lot across the street from People’s Park. Police are still investigating whether his death was an accident or a slaying.”
*****
“Berkeley police shot and killed a gun-wielding suspect after he pointed his weapon at them at the end of a chase, authorities said today.
Three Berkeley police officers shot and killed the suspect near 8th and Camelia streets at about 11 p.m. Monday, authorities said.
The incident began in Albany when officers there tried to stop the suspect in a car, authorities said. The man may have been involved in a hit-and-run crash, police said.
The suspect refused to stop, leading Albany police on a chase that ended up in Berkeley, where he ran from the car near San Pablo Avenue and Jones Street, authorities said.”
*****
How many chases that result in death will the BPD need before they change their tactics?
“UC Berkeley junior Evan Cox was arrested for failing to comply with police orders to move away from the crashed civilian vehicle, which had collided with the patrol car after running a red light at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street at around 1:20 a.m., according to a police report.
Cox said he was walking home on Telegraph with a few friends when he heard the collision and arrived at the scene before police.
After police arrived, Berkeley police Sgt. Peter Hong attempted to move Cox’s friend, UC Berkeley senior Gabriella Calvo, away from the scene. Cox then moved between the two, according to the report.
“I was just being a calm, helpful observer,” Cox said. “I wasn’t trying to escalate any drama. (Hong) was the one who came up and introduced tension into the situation.”
*****
Even more outrageous than Hong’s attack on this guy is the way that Hong was defended by Sgt Kusmiss. She’s quoted in the article: “Often times officers have to respond swiftly to situations like this to either preserve a crime scene or ensure community safety. Crowd control situations where officers are met with an ugly or hostile crowd are some of the most dangerous and unpredictable situations.” — Ummm… Where was the ugly, hostile crowd? This was a car crash and people were trying to help! The reality is that your attack dog is out of control. Seriously, who attacks a bystander to a crash?? Well, we now know that Officer Hong does, but what SANE person? She goes on to dig the whole even deeper, saying “One of our core departmental values is to treat people with respect wherever possible.” Important to understanding this little rhetorical slight of hand – which, frankly, only privileged cop-sympathizers would be confused by – is the “wherever possible.” Essentially, BPD reserves the right to degrade, disrespect, and otherwise insult or assault any person whom they decide isn’t worthy of their misguided acknowledgment as a full citizen. Well done, Sgt. Kusmiss. Well done!
Hong said he then pushed Cox, who then ran westbound on Haste.”
“UCPD Chief Mitch Celaya said that the department is preparing to be able to deal with a variety of potential scenarios.
“We’re bringing in additional staffing,” he said. “We’ll have some strategies in place to allow us to respond to picketing or marching or rallies or even possible sit-ins or building takeovers.”
Berkeley police Lt. Andrew Greenwood said the Berkeley Police Department is aware of the scope and potential of the upcoming demonstrations and that “there’s significant planning under way.”"
*****
Can we imagine a scenario where the state spent more time and money figuring out how to respond to inter-personal violence with justice, love, and victims services than suppressing popular revolt? Can we imagine a scenario in which the resources of the state were transformed into instruments of personal and communal creativity and self-fulfillment rather than repressive repressive instruments of violence and control? Can we imagine a scenario in which the systems of state and capitalist violence and oppression became the targets of cops – when the batons cracked the skulls of AIG corporate bosses?
Here’s to the new possibilities that will be opened up on March 4!
“J. Hadley Louden says he was marching down Telegraph Avenue during the 2009 Mardi Gras parade, “wearing a large set of drums and cymbals on a harness around his upper body and strapped over his shoulders and around his waist; and he was smoking a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette, for which he had a doctor’s prescription.”
…
He claims a Berkeley cop, “Kelley,” “approached him and demanded the cigarette. Plaintiff bridled, explaining that his possession was legal and turned away,” according to the complaint in Alameda County Court.”
“Daschel Butler, Berkeley’s retired police chief, will be appointed BART’s interim police chief while the transit district conducts a nationwide search for a new chief, the agency announced Tuesday.
Butler, who retired after 12 years as Berkeley’s chief in 2002, is expected to take charge in mid-January after completing state requirements. He’s replacing Chief Gary Gee, who announced he would retire earlier in the year after drawing criticism for the department’s handling of the Oscar Grant shooting early New Year’s Day. His last day is today.”
“Two weeks prior to retiring on Sept 24th, Chief Douglas Hambleton unilaterally rescinded Berkeley Police General Order “A-1″, which tells police officers to use the “least intrusive action… when possible.” General Order A-1 is the difference between being harassed, cuffed, and taken to the station for jay-walking, or simply being ticketed for jay-walking. It’s the difference between a night or two in Berkeley jail for an open container, or being ticketed for an open container. The recension was done without the knowledge or consent of Berkeley City Council, or the Berkeley Police Commission.”
*****
One is left to wonder the usefulness of an oversight body that could be deceived and generally ignored in this decision. What is the Berkeley Police Commission supposed to be doing if not monitoring issues like these? Further, what is the meaning of the rescinding of this General Order? How is the public supposed to interpret this if not as an indication that police should be invading their lives? A nod and wink from the chief, and…