Public Safety and Police Reform

Bringing Safety to Everyone

Kate has worked with the Berkeley Police Department to bring bicycle patrols to the Downtown, improve our dispatch system, reduce use of force and limit the use of surveillance and sharing data with outside agencies. Her office fought for release of the study from UCLA documenting racial disparities in police stops, citations, searches, arrests and use of force. She drafted the resolution in November 2017, requiring the City Manager to track police interactions by race, develop training programs to address disparities, and implement policy and practice reforms that reflect cooperation between the Berkeley Police Department, the Police Review Commission and the broader Berkeley community.

Alternatives to Policing

Kate supports dispatching field workers trained in crisis response to non-criminal, safe service calls (e.g., addressing homelessness and mental health crises) but believes that we need a central dispatch so that police can still respond if dispatchers or the field workers determine they are needed. Together, we can create a safer Berkeley by freeing up our police to respond where they are most needed.

Independent Police Oversight

When Kate first ran, she promised to advocate for effective changes to ensure police oversight. In 2020, she proposed and campaigned for a charter amendment to create an independent Police Accountability Board. Berkeley voters approved creating it by over 80% of the voters. The Board launched in July 2021 bringing independent civilian oversight of the Berkeley Police Department. With a budget set independently of the city council, a right to subpoena records and a clear role in setting police policy, the new Board is proving to be a powerful force to ensure the public knows how its police force works.