I am writing this review for my friend who had a very disconcerning experience with the police this weekend. She drove back at around 6pm to her apartment (around MLK and Channing). When she arrived, a 6 foot suspicious guy was wandering in front of the gated door. She circled a couple of times of around the block to avoid interacting with the guy. After circling, she noticed the guy was gone so she decided to enter the parking garage. She went upstairs and she entered her apartment normally. A couple of minutes later, she heard a knock on the door. When she opened the door, the same suspicious guy made his way into her apartment by pushing her aside. He started ranting on about how she should have a religion and she should believe in Zeus. At this point, she is terrified that he invaded her apartment and suspects that he is on drugs. She demands that he leave her apartment. He mumbles some stuff and attempt to make his way further into her apartment. As he is doing this, she demands that he leave. She screams and start shoving him right out the door (go girl). Still traumatized, she called 911. However, the line was busy....really? She then called the Berkeley police. When she told them what happened, the police immediately scolded her for not calling Berkeley police first (and not 911), since they can act faster than 911. 30 minutes later, the police arrived. She filed the report, and the police fortunately caught the guy. However, the police told her that the guy did nothing wrong (no one was harmed) and will only be sent to the hospital since he was on drugs. I have a lot of issues on what happened. First of all, he did nothing wrong? Things could have turned out differently. If she did not shove him out when she did, he could have destroyed her place and hurt her in the process. He could have easily pushed her and she would hit her head on something, since he was a huge guy. So is the police really advocating for her to get injured? Second, do not scold someone to call the Berkeley PD first. Help her, then give advice. Third, why isn't the suspicious guy getting reprimanded? I am all for allowing the mentally ill getting the help that they need, but the guy has to get reprimanded for at least for trespassing or soliciting. The police is basically saying that you can do whatever you want as long as you don't injure someone. But even then, I would not be surprised if the suspicious guy injured someone and gets away with it, especially if he was drugged up. You should also know that this suspicious guy also broke into someone's apartment before my friend's. That neighbor did not get into an altercation with the guy, but all I am just saying is that my friend was not the only victim. It has been a couple of days now, and my friend is still afraid to come home after a long day of work. It is just sad to know that she doesn't feel safe at home and cannot even trust the police to help her. She is seriously thinking of moving now. Up until this point, I have been all for the police. In my mind, it is a very noble job since they maintain peace and order in the society. However, from this experience, I am very disappointed in the way the police handled things. read more

Filthy racist pigs. Be very careful if you are passing through Berkeley and happen to be driving a new car and happen to not be white. My husband was pulled over and arrested for supposedly having a warrant from LA county. These pigs have zero training on how to deal with any situation. They were brutal towards my husband. All he wanted was an explanation of what was going on and they refused to give him any info. I'm not sure if that's legal but all I know is the supposed warrant called for a 30k bail. That would seem pretty serious to me. I would think if there was an outstanding ticket that turned into a warrant it wouldn't be possible to have insurance, registration or a new drivers license in CA. We had to pay over 7k in bail and lawyer fees to get this off his record. The arresting officer also gave him a ticket for not having plates on his new car. This was before paper plates. This was when you had a little paper taped on the front windshield passenger side which was clearly displayed by the Carmax where the vehicle was purchased. So the ticket was never entered. The arresting officer has up to one year to enter the ticket so we can pay it. She never entered it. This whole thing has corrupt cop and power trip written all over it. They also threw him in a cell with a guy who was in there for beating the shit out of his girlfriend. The audacity of arresting a tax paying Californian citizen. Fuck you Berkeley pathetic department. You owe me $7000. Disgusting. A pig is a pig and that's that. read more

This review is for the non-emergency dispatchers: they are often rude and completely inappropriate on the phone (I do not by any means intend to say this about all of them). I had the misfortune of speaking with Ms. Sherman, Badge #552, on the phone tonight while trying to look up a report I filed against someone who committed a crime against me that left my life mostly destroyed. At first she said that no report was filed -- because *she* couldn't find the report -- then later happened to find it after I became more assertive with a level of aggression I almost never use anywhere. She asked me for my name, which I spelled out for her (spelling alphabet style) at a normal pace. She couldn't understand me, and told me that I was rambling when I literally only told her what she asked. I explained to her that perhaps the failure in communication was likely more closely related to her lack of comprehension after she continued to antagonize me and that being rude was not in any way necessary (FYI, lady and/or officer, I have likely studied more psychology and communications than you ever will). I don't enjoy being a pedantic douche, but this seems like the only way to communicate when someone you can't yell at gets that way. Can you imagine if someone acted this way in any other customer service job? How long do you think they'd stay employed? I'm all for hiring people that need jobs -- including those who may not be the best at them -- but this is a different situation entirely. read more

This crowd is arrogance pure! Hidden away in their massive structure on MLK, so all we got was phone service from a nasty woman who refused to even have the courtesy to come downstairs and speak to us - although we were told by the polite desk personnel that someone would - AND she refused to give us her name, only a badge # (Yes, Virginia, it seems that some cops DO hide behind their badges). This phone cop also played the roles of judge and jurors (!) during her tirade, insisting she would NOT take a report on the Berkeley Animal Care Services defrauding me of my dog and giving it to a police officer because I was WRONG! I am now convinced that Berkeley is only interested in a 'Sanctuary State' for illegals and that the police department itself is riddled with laziness, liars, and a "Good Old Boy/Girl" membership mentality whereby the cops here stick with the animal cops at BACS, who 'knowingly and willfully', defrauded me of my dog, Paddy, being fully aware that they would be protected by the Berkeley Police Department. People once went to the Police for help...really? Then why is a police officer refusing to return my three year old service Lab? Because he is protected by his own kind and he likes the power. Never mind the big salary because a cop can buy his own dog. Definitely the power. Check out this for a chief's opinion-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dhSlcyU8oA read more

I have heard a lot of hateful remarks being made about BPD and the people who work there and I wanted to say that they have some of the nicest officers I have ever met. I also have heard a lot of hate recently about first responders around the nation recently, most of that hate being towards law enforcement.I want to remind people that if you have had a "bad interaction" with BPD or any other law enforcement agency than stop breaking the law! If your breaking the law and you get arrested or get in trouble with the police it is your fault. These people are just doing their jobs! First responders are humans with emotions just like you and me! That being said there are first responders out there who are racist and homophobic and mean spirited people, whose actions I do not condone one bit. It only takes one of those people to make a whole department look bad, Which is something really unfortunate, that happens way too much these days. I hope it will end soon. Anyways the point I'm trying to make is that you should really be hating crimes, not the police! Thanks again to seargent rosie Chung and all of the amazing brave men and women of the BPD. Also thank you to all the men and woman across the country who protect and serve us every day. You matter and you will never be forgotten. read more

Police officers have dangerous jobs, and many should have our respect. However, the Berkeley Police Department is full of petty men who take advantage of their power demean people. In a dark night, someone yelled at me and grabbed me. This has happened to me on the streets of Berkeley many times...but the first time by a police officer. He told me I was lucky he hadn't shoot me because I struggled with him, and then his partner gave me a lecture about "threat assessment" because they were police officers and it is the law to be detained by them if they so wish. I am a petite woman, and if I later am raped and murdered, as my cousin and so many women are, then that murder should be on his head--for telling me that when a man yells and grabs at me, I should turn around, smile, and say, "Yes, sir?" I was given a fine and more lectures "to teach me a lesson." Really, there is no one to protect us from the police, and I feel even less safe walking the streets now. I have never before seen a police officer actually do anything on the streets of Berkeley. I and my friends have been the victims of many crimes in Berkeley--where were they then? read more

Self glorifying, shady, and gobbling up city funds for play. BPD is one of the most phoney institutions in Berkeley. There's no real reported or recorded problems because Berkeley PD police does not bother to come and write police reports for anybody that is not essentially a privileged white person or a jussie Smollett. They blame looting on 20 or 30 black kids when I saw for myself that it was four white kids and two black kids and when I try to record they turn their police cars around so that the headlights would completely drown out my camera. When the Looting was goin on people across the street had pointed to the car so that Berkeley Police could chase them and all they did was pretend to start chasing them and then start doing donuts in the intersection, and playing around with the other officers. the police review Commission is another joke they don't bother to investigate any of the things they say they supposedly do they will always come up with an excuse to either not accept the case ,to close the case or use administrative excuses to just plain and simply not do anything so why are they getting paid?? read more

I want to make a poster the says... Hey all of you out there...will you like to brake into my house? rob me or any member of my family? we can even think of rape or you can grab a nice expensive bike that you can sale for $40.00 for a little crack ( this is what the cops told me happens when your bike is stolen)... the possibilities are endless bad person... And the best part! the chances of you getting caught are rare !!!! The victim doesn't even get a police report right away that's if the cops show up! You barely see cops in downtown Berkeley so you are good to go...grab a purse or cell phone on your way out :) or brake one of our car windows to grab what you need. We love living in fear! But keep in mind when visiting Berkeley..pay the meter because one thing we got a lot of is parking enforcement and they will not do anything to you or stop you but they will sure give a nice big ticket! And is ok my family and I have jobs you know Monday- Friday, we make money and pay taxes so we can afford to buy thing you can take from us! It's just a lovely City. Obviously I would never do that, but this is the reality. read more

You scumbags. You're just the military arm of the rich. Attacking the poor, the most vulnerable, for the benefit of the wealthy doesn't make you the people's heroes, it makes you the people's enemy, the villain. Peoples Park is dead because you enjoy harming the unhoused. I've watched you smile as we suffered. I watched you threaten my life bcuz I stood up to you as a homeless citizen, and neighbor. You are no heroes. You're criminals with a license to kill, hiding behind armor and a badge. May peace never be with you. And may your crimes against humanity catch up with you in ways you never could've imagined. You steal from the coffers of the city to be paid overtime in your attacks on the liberty of our most unfortunate citizens. You can never come back from this. No amount of community service can fool us anymore. You're pure evil. And your lives are as meaningless to us, as ours are to you. read more

Berkeley Police Department's Abusive Power and Intimidation techniques. After being in custody recently by the Berkeley Police Department I had my prescribed medication withheld, experienced unacceptable interrogation techniques and had over $6000 worth of damage done to my home during a Berkeley Police Department search. Upon my return Officer K. Kleppe #115 of the Berkeley Police Department had left his business card taped to my front door. My apartment is conveniently located right next to my apartment's laundry and trash rooms. If a search is needed then by all means complete a search but is it necessary to broadcast my personal business to to all my neighbors? During this search the Berkeley Police Department caused over an estimated $6000 in damages to my home and personal items. I will be posting photos to Instagram showing the damage, read more

thank God i live in TN! watching the violent, leftist thugs attacking people while the Berkeley police do NOTHING is shameful. They all cant be cowards, can they?? How can you take an oath to 'protect and defend' and stand around and watch innocent people being beaten and maced? While they do nothing, a Trump supporter defends others with a stick and they arrest and charge him with 6 felonies?? Maybe this is the reason the rest of the country couldnt care less what happens in CA's 50 natural disasters a year. This dept and these officers need to do their job or resign! a LEO is not the job to take simply for a paycheck. read more

Absolute third world.tier police department. When anti conservative riots took place about a week ago, the cops actively and obviously stood down and did not interfere. They let mobs of left wing crazies run around.and damage property and injure people. I really hope these Berkeley leftists eventually use the leeway the police give them to burn that garbage dump of a city to the ground. Oh and thank you Berkeley police.for doing nothing while we were surrounded by mobs of rioters and you stood around like mannequins. I can see why you have six figure pensions you are totally worth it. read more

I would watch out for the Indian cop officer Sighn. I used to volunteer at Cop Watch and I was told by homeless people a long time ago, that he would ride his bike around and kick homeless peoples heads for fun. Now he patrols south berkeley. He is also an enemy to victims and a friend to preditors. He got credit for being a first responder to the balcony fall a few years back and he was on the news for being a hero and he organized a fundraiser. However, he just does that to cover up for his fasanation of hurting people. I would watch out for him he is a troubled person! read more

After only being in Berkeley for 2 weeks , I saw this law enforcement group is terrible . I saw an officer IN HIS COP CAR texting while driving. A cop smoking in a no smoking area (Shattuck ). And 3 of them standing on a corner eating donuts drinking coffee . Seriously ? But I park in a 1 hour parking area and get a parking ticket after parking for only 30 minutes ? I see all these other things you guys should be taking care of but those are their priorities .... read more

One of the worst PDs in the country. Police officers take a ridiculously callous approach to crimes committed by the thugs against UC Berkeley students. You can see daily reports of daylight robberies in coffee shops and on the streets near the university. Are the Berkeley PD in on these crimes or are they just incompetent and lazy? Whatever it is, this needs to stop. People, lets speak with our votes at the next election and let the healing for this city begin! read more

There are many somewhat violent drug addicts on the main square in Berkeley and also many incidents at the Target and Trader Joes. They happen nearly daily, and BPD is never there. It is incredible what the poor criminals in this city get away with. However, if you have a real job and do something minor, you'll get attention. Ridiculous. read more

Pretty sad the police standby and watch criminals beat up people and destroy property as in the riots at the college. Sorry excuse for a police department. Hopefully President Trump will clean house and put you lazy cowards on the unemployment line. If your not going to uphold the law then you cowards need to resign. read more

Standard corrupt police department ..... sad . They seem to be complicate in helping criminals loot burn and destroy. Watched as a person was mugged and beaten with BPD officers 20 feet way on their phones. I'd avoid Berkeley till the FBI does an investigation. read more

It's pretty damned sad when the local police dept becomes as jaded as the communist community they serve (or should I say "service?"). Are the Berkeley police actual law enforcement officers, or are they really the Village People making a comeback? What a joke. read more