The final PRC meeting before summer recess. (The next meeting will be September 9) Note that the meeting will be a long one, starting at 6pm rather than 7pm and concluding at 10pm. The reason for the extended length is that we are at the city council’s deadline for a report-back on the investigation of the police response to the BlackLivesMatter protest of December 6. Even if we have to ask the council for a time extension, it is important that we make every effort to complete the investigation as quickly as possible, so it remains a timely report.
Here is the link to the full PRC packet:
The packet contains background information on the city’s ban on using helicopters in most situations. It also contains the police chief’s statement on the department’s response to the July 27 laundromat robbery, including the Alameda PD’s use of an armored car and a dog from the OPD. A letter from Andrea Pritchett of CopWatch on this subject is also included.
Current status:
– The Findings are almost complete and are relatively strong as a critique of the BPD’s actions. There will be compromise language in there but it is a good beginning to the conversation. The final discussion on the Findings this Wednesday may be brief, though there is still time for public comment.
– The Recommendatioons, by contrast, are contested on almost every point. We have deferred critical decisions about many aspects, including the BPD’s desire for helicopters, less-lethal weapons in crowd situations, how to handle baton abuse, and the contentious debate over who controls mutual aid agencies’ activities and equipment, plus any overall recommendations about accountability and discipline.
Public comment in the PRC meetings has been very effective in strengthening the report. There will reportedly be significant participation this Wednesday by students of color from UC Berkeley. Please join them! Your input on any of the topics mentioned above, or others related to the right to protest or racialized policing, are welcome and appreciated.