Berkeley Homicides Double – From 2 to 4

In the first nine months, homicides in Berkeley went from two in 2005 to four in 2006. Oakland as of this writing has 145 homicides.

Oakland has 400,000 residents; Berkeley has 100,000.

More important for the residents, while burglaries are rising in Oakland, the number fell in Berkeley. Vehicle thefts also fell in Berkeley to 873. In nine months Oakland residents suffered more than 6,000 auto thefts.

Assaults in Berkeley were up, but only because a rash of paintball attacks were recorded as violent crime. (Berkeley crime figures from Berkeley Daily Planet, Dec. 12, 2006)

According to the Berkeley chief of police, half the crimes in the city are committed by out-of-towners, particularly from Oakland and Richmond. Residents of south Berkeley adjacent to north Oakland have suffered the spillover for years.

What about police staffing? If we combine the 185 City of Berkeley officers with the 77 University of California police, Berkeley has 45 percent more police per population than Oakland. Also, the university student population is a unique group. Which city council needs to devote urgent attention to public safety? Which city council needs to commit to a police force of at least 1,100 officers?