Thank you to everyone who attended our fall ‘24 member meeting!

The slide deck presentation can be viewed with this link.

Our apologies, but due to a technical issue, the meeting was not recorded.

Questions or comments, email us at contact@safebears.org.

Here are a few highlights from the meeting. (updated with corrected staffing numbers UCPD provided to SafeBears 9/27/24)

UCPD STAFFING HAS IMPROVED BUT REMAINS AT HISTORIC LOW

SafeBears commends Chief Yogananda Pittman for rapidly recruiting new sworn officers during her approximately 18 months at the helm of the UC Berkeley Police Department (UCPD). When she took office in Feb 2023, the department had just 42 sworn officers. Today, UCPD has 49 officers, 43 of whom are full fledged officers and 6 of whom are new officers in field training. Additionally, UCPD has 2 trainees about to enter the police academy, and is advertising to hire 2 more officers. Chief Pittman’s speed in building up the department is particularly remarkable given the challenging hiring environment for law enforcement personnel in the Bay Area and nationwide.

Unfortunately, UCPD staffing remains at an historic low. In 2014 UCPD employed 70 sworn officers; in 2007 UCPD had 80. Today, the department’s authorized hiring target is only 55.

Moreover, the City of Berkeley Police Department is in the midst of a staffing crisis, with fewer than 150 officers out of 180 authorized.

Finally, UC Berkeley still has not created the new non sworn safety responder position that is 3 years in the making. And, assuming approval, the university intends to launch the program with only 2 hires, a significant scaling down from original plans.

Slide from Sept 24, 2024, Zoom meeting, updated 9/27/24. "SPO" means Security Patrol Officer, unarmed, non sworn personnel who guard specific university sites, e.g. Albany Village housing. "CSO" means Community Service Organization, the program of part time student workers who provide SafeWalks as well as foot patrols in certain areas, e.g Clark Kerr.

SECURITY FENCING FOR UNITS 1-3

Security fencing and gates for Southside Residence Halls (Units 1, 2, 3) has begun with Unit 2, slightly behind schedule. SafeBears will continue to monitor progress, and is still pushing for Unit 1 to be included soon.

Unit 2 – project underway, expected completion spring/summer ‘25

Unit 3 – not yet in contracting phase; expected to begin this academic year

Unit 1 – not included in current fencing project

INTRODUCING THE SVSH COMMITTEE

The SafeBears Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SB-SVSH) Committee is a new initiative dedicated to addressing sexual violence at UC Berkeley.

Read the committee’s introductory blog post.

Read the committee’s blog post on predatory drugs and drug-facilitated sexual assault.