| Frequently
Asked Questions
Listed below are some of the most
frequently asked questions to our Web Site. If you have a question that is
not listed, please feel free to use the Comments
page.
-
CONTACTING
THE POLICE -
- BEAT
OFFICER QUESTIONS -
-TRAFFIC
QUESTIONS-
- NARCOTICS
AND VICE QUESTIONS -
- REPORTS
-
- ALARM
QUESTIONS -
- GENERAL
QUESTIONS -
CONTACTING THE POLICE
Q. How do I report a crime? 1)
Emergency
2) Non-Emergency
When should I call 911? What is another phone number to contact the
police department?
1) If it is an emergency, call 911.
Examples of emergencies include: robbery, mugging, burglary, in
progress car break-in, automobile accident, fire, or any other dangerous
or violent crime that is happening around you.
2) If it is a non-emergency call Berkeley
Police Department's dispatch at (510) 981-5900. Examples of
non-emergency calls include:
Reporting a break-in that occurred several
days earlier, missing
animals, speeding vehicles, noise complaints, reporting vandalism
where you did not see a suspect, reporting a loud party, or a theft report
with no known suspect.
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Q. What
happens when I call 911 from a cell phone?
If you call 911 from a cell phone, your call is directed to a
California Highway Patrol Dispatcher, who takes the call. Once the
dispatcher has taken the call, they will then contact Berkeley PD and have
them respond. Unfortunately, this additional step lengthens the amount of
time it takes for police to respond. For a faster response from a cell phone, you can call Berkeley Police Department's Emergency Dispatch number
directly at (510) 981-5911.
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Q. What
will I need to tell the 911 Dispatcher?
When you call the 911 communications center, a dispatcher will ask you questions in order to
ascertain the nature of the crime and the description of the persons
involved. All of the questions a dispatcher asks are done to assist a
responding police officer in handling the call. Some things to keep in
mind when talking to dispatchers are listed below:
- What is occurring?
- Where is the incident occurring?
- Is there a weapon involved?
- How many people involved?
- What is the physical description of the people
involved?
- Is there a car associated with the incident?
- What color, make, model, or license plate
number on the car?
- Is there anything unique about the car (damage
to one side, bumper stickers, etc.)?
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Q.
When
I call, why does the dispatcher ask so many questions instead of just
sending an officer?
In order to determine what type of response priority (priority is
explained more below) is needed, the dispatcher needs to determine who is
involved, what happened, when the incident occurred, where the incident is
occurring, why it is occurring, and how many people are involved in the
incident so they can determine how many officers are needed to bring the
incident under control. The dispatchers work as a team so while one
dispatcher is gathering information from you another dispatcher could be
helping out by sending officers right away.
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Q. Why
do I sometimes have to wait for an hour or more for the police to come?
Depending on the type of call, it is ranked according to the seriousness
of the reported incident. (see information about priority below) If the
call does not require an immediate response, it waits until there is an
officer available to respond. Thus, a report only status will take longer
than an emergency call needing an officer now.
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Q. How
are calls prioritized at Berkeley Police Department?
All calls for service are given a predetermined priority code based on the
activity that is being reported.
· Priority 1: Calls dispatched
immediately. These calls include situations involving threat to life,
crime of violence, in progress felonies, missing juveniles (under 12
years old), and accidents with injuries.
· Priority 2: These calls should be dispatched within 20
minutes. They include situations involving business or residential
alarms, calls with a threat of violence, and suspicious circumstances
(involving suspicious vehicles, or suspicious persons).
· Priority 3: These calls should be dispatched within 60
minutes. These are calls in which a significant amount of time has
passed since the crime occurred. These include crimes such as burglary,
thefts, vandalism, with the responsible parties gone.
· Priority 4 and 5: These calls include parking matters
and abandoned automobiles.
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Q. Why
don't I see my beat officer on a regular basis?
The beats here in Berkeley are relatively large areas. Officers are
required to patrol these areas over a 10-hour shift. During this time,
officers must also respond to calls for service on their beat. After
responding to a call, officers must frequently write a report which can
take anywhere from 15 minutes to an entire shift. When the Beat Officer
has free time, they conduct regular patrols of their beats.
If the Beat Officer is writing a lengthy report,
officers from neighboring beats will handle calls for service. To see
which officers work in your neighborhood, visit our current
beat officer page. To see which beat is associated with your address,
take a look at the beat map.
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Q. Why are some
beats so much larger than others?
The beat configurations were based on a comprehensive study conducted
by the Police Department. Beats were divided into areas that
had a comparable number of calls for police service. To see which
beat is associated with your address, take a look at the beat
map.
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Q. How
can residents help reduce crime in their neighborhood?
Residents can be helpful by being the eyes and ears of their neighborhood.
If you see something that appears suspicious, it probably is. Call the
police and provide a good description of the problem and the people
involved.
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Additionally, the Berkeley Police Department is a
strong supporter of the Neighborhood Watch Program. This Program allows
communities to build ties amongst neighbors and the Police
Department. The Program also promotes proven crime prevention
strategies. To learn more about Neighborhood Watch from it's members,
please visit the Berkeley
Safe Neighborhoods Committee Web site. If you are interested in
joining a Neighborhood Watch Program, please contact our Community
Services Bureau at (510) 981-5808.
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Q. How
are crimes investigated?
When a crime is reported, the Beat Officer responds to the scene. Once the
scene is safe, the officer will initiate an investigation. Depending on
the circumstances, the officer may conduct interviews, survey the crime
scene, and locate relevant evidence. After the preliminary investigation
is completed, any follow-up that is needed is handled by detectives.
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Q. What
happens when an investigation is completed?
In criminal cases, an investigation is completed when a suspect has been
identified and arrested. At this stage, the case is forwarded to the Alameda
County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
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Q. Why
shouldn't I call the Police when power is out?
PG&E
service is out - don't call the Police Dept as we have no information and
no control on when it will be put back into service. Call PG&E at the #
listed in your phone directory and they will call you back.
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BEAT OFFICER QUESTIONS
Q. What are a Police
Officer's duties?
Berkeley Police Officers perform general law enforcement duties in the
City of Berkeley. Officers have the authority to enforce laws throughout
the State of California. They patrol an assigned area in vehicles,
on bicycles, or on foot. Officers frequently intervene in situations
involving crimes in progress, initiate their own investigations, apprehend
suspects, investigate traffic collisions, respond to calls involving
emotionally disturbed persons, interact with the public, and attend
Neighborhood Watch Meetings.
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Q. In
what kind of conditions do Berkeley Police Officers work under?
Police Officers spend much of their time working outdoors, walking and/or
standing in an assigned area for longs periods of time. They must also be
able to drive or sit in a patrol car during their shift while remaining
alert. Officers are called upon to run after suspects and, in the process,
may be required to scale fences, climb stairs, or circumvent other
obstacles. Officers may be called upon to carry an injured adult, restrain
suspects when necessary, and be able to subdue a suspect who is resisting
arrest. Officers must be able to do all of these activities while wearing
heavy equipment and a bulletproof vest.
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Q. What
kind of training do Berkeley Police Officers Receive?
Berkeley Police Officers attend a State certified police academy that
lasts approximately 6 months. After the academy has been
completed, new officers participate in our Field Training Program
which lasts approximately 4 months. Officers continuously
receive updated training throughout their careers here in Berkeley .
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Q. Who is my
Beat Officer and how do I find him or her?
Each beat has different officers that work there depending on the time of
day and day of the week. To find your beat officer see our current
beat officer page. To see which beat is associated with your address,
take a look at the beat map.
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Q. How do I
commend a Berkeley Police Department employee?
If you would like to commend a Berkeley Police Department employee you can
write an email using the
comment form. Simply check off the "Praise" box on the form
and describe the event. This letter will be forwarded to the
employee and his or her supervisors.
You may also mail a commendation to the following
address:
Chief of Police
Berkeley Police Department
2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
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Q. How do I
complain against a Berkeley Police Department Employee?
If you would like to complain about an employee, you may file a
personnel complaint. This is any charge against an employee of the
Police Department that is made to protest an action taken or omitted by
the employee. If you would like to make a complaint between 8AM and 5PM,
you may call Internal Affairs Bureau at (510) 981-5706. At all other times
commanding or supervisory officers at the Public Safety Building can take
complaints. If you desire to do this, call (510) 981-5900 and state,
"I want to make a complaint against an employee of the Police
Department." The call will then be transferred to the appropriate
person to take the complaint.
When you speak to a member of the Internal Affairs
Bureau, they will explain the complaint process and provide you with
options on how to proceed. The Chief of Police makes the final decision as
to the disposition of the complaint and will inform the complainant of his
findings.
You may also file a complaint with the Police Review
Commission by calling them at (510) 981-4950
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TRAFFIC
QUESTIONS
Q. What
are the driving rules when a police vehicle is approaching with lights and
siren on?
Under
California Vehicle Code section 21806, any vehicle, other than the
emergency vehicle, must pull over to the right hand edge of the curb,
clear any intersection they may be in, and come to a stop until the
emergency vehicle has passed. Any vehicle making a turn must also do the
same, when safe to do so, to allow the emergency vehicle to pass. Any
pedestrian must proceed to the nearest curb and stay there until the
emergency vehicle has passed.
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Q.
Why
do police vehicles block the roadway when making a car stop? Why can't the
officers move their unit when I tell them to do so?
Police officers will create a safe zone to make their approach on foot by
angling their police unit slightly into traffic. Until they are done with
their traffic stop, their police unit is left in place. Officers,
depending on the type of traffic stop, and if it is safe to do so, may
move their unit upon a request by a citizen. However, if the traffic stop
is not safe, then any citizen making a request will have to wait unit the
traffic stop is completed.
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Q.
Why
can't an Officer assist me while he/she is making a traffic stop?
Because
of the nature of traffic stops and their inherent danger, the officer has
to focus only on the vehicle/occupants. The officer's full attention has
to be with the occupants of the vehicle and only after the stop is
completed can the officer divert his/her attention.
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Q.
When
I am driving and come to an intersection with the signals working and
there is a uniformed person in the middle of the intersection waving their
arms, whom do I respond too?
The driver of any vehicle should respond to the uniformed person who is
waving their arms. There may be some physical damage to the roadway, there
may be equipment that is blocking the right of way, there could be
overhead wires down in the roadway, measurements are being taken to
document a collision, or emergency equipment is responding to the scene,
or any other good example, and the uniformed person waving their arms is
trying to get your attention.
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Q. Are
police officers required to write so many traffic citations per day or do
they have a quota?
Quotas
are prohibited by law, officers issue citations based a number of factors,
including; current road conditions, traffic complaints, collision history,
location (School Zone, Downtown area, etc.), speed surveys, and traffic
volumes.
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Q. How
do I request traffic enforcement for a certain area?
Please fill out our Traffic
Enforcement Form. You may also contact the an officer in the
Traffic Bureau by calling (510) 981-5980.
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Q. Where
do I find out the cost of the fines associated with the ticket I received?
Fines for Vehicle Code Violations are calculated using a complex formula
involving the Municipality, County, and State. These fines are subject to
change without notice. Based on this, the courts are the best place to get
specific dollar amounts for fines associated with traffic violations. This
information is included on the courtesy notice mailed by the courts.
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Q. I
have lost my traffic citation what should I do?
If you have lost your traffic citation, contact the Berkeley Traffic Court
at (510) 647-4401. It may take several weeks before the courts have
processed the paperwork and have your ticket on file.
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Q. How
can I contest a traffic citation?
Whenever a person is issued a traffic citation, they have the option of
paying the ticket, or appearing in court to contest the ticket. A courtesy
notice is typically mailed from the Berkeley Traffic Court sometime
between 30 to 60 days after the citation was issued. This notice will lay
out the fees for the ticket and explain the procedure for requesting a
court date. If you have not received a courtesy notice, you are still
responsible for the ticket and should call the Berkeley Traffic Court at
(510) 647-4401.
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Q. How
do I contest a parking ticket?
Individuals may request a hearing to contest a parking ticket within 21
days of the citation. You may schedule a hearing by going to 1947 Center
St in Berkeley between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The phone number is (510) 981-7200. You can also mail your request or pay
by mail. Remember to include the
citation number on the correspondence, check, or money order.
Customer
Service Center
Attn: Parking Citation Unit
1947
Center Street
Berkeley,
CA 94704
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Q. How
do I find out how much my parking ticket will cost?
The cost of the ticket is usually written on the ticket. If you have
questions please call (510) 644-8732 or go to 2020 Center Street in
Berkeley to find out how much the citation will cost.
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Q. Under
what circumstances are vehicles towed?
There are many reasons that vehicles are towed. The most common reasons
vehicles are towed are:
· Driver is unlicensed or license is suspended.
· The vehicle is not registered or the registration is expired.
· The vehicle has more than 5 outstanding parking tickets where payment
is delinquent.
· Certain Vehicle Code violations (blocking roadway etc.).
When a vehicle is towed, the owner must take care of
the reason it was towed before they can recover their car. This means any
outstanding citations or delinquent registration fees must be paid
before the car can be released. Depending on the violation, this may
require the owner to go to the DMV, or local Police Department. If your
car has been towed, the Police Department can direct you to the correct
tow company so that you can begin the process of recovering your car.
Any person who has had their car towed is entitled
to a tow hearing. If you need to schedule a tow hearing, please call the
Traffic Bureau at (510) 981-5980. We are unable to schedule tow hearings
on the same day the vehicle was towed.
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Q. How
do I obtain a stored / impounded vehicle release?
If your vehicle was towed by the
Berkeley Police Department for any of the below listed offenses, you will
need a Vehicle Release before the towing company will return your car.
Releases may be obtained at the Public
Safety Building located at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. If your vehicle was impounded/stored by the
Berkeley Police Department, for the following violations, you are required
to pay a release fee of $75 to the City of Berkeley, plus any towing and
storage charges:
- Failure to pay parking citations -
22651(i) VC*
- Expired registration - 22651(o) VC
- Unlicensed driver - 22651(p) or 14602.7
VC*
- Abandoned or parked over 72 hours
22651(k) VC
- Unlicensed/Uninsured Taxi Cab (53675.61
GC/6325NS)
*If your vehicle was impounded for
excessive unpaid parking citations (22651(i) VC), you will also need a
release from the City of Berkeley Parking
Citation Payment Center.
*If your vehicle was impounded pursuant to
14602.7 VC (Drivers License Suspended), the vehicle will not be released
until completion of a Tow Hearing. Call the Berkeley Police Traffic Bureau
at (510) 981-5980 for scheduling.
If your vehicle was stored by the Berkeley
Police Department for the following violations, you are NOT REQUIRED
to pay a release fee, but may be liable for towing and storage charges:
- Recovered Stolen Vehicle
- Driver Arrested* 22651(h) VC
- No Evidence of Registration 22651(j) VC
- Illegally Parked Vehicle 22651(r) VC
*Other offenses, not involving drivers
license - 22651(h) VC.
In most cases, you will be required to
furnish evidence of current registration and a valid drivers license to
obtain a Police Release. If you have questions concerning towed vehicles,
vehicle releases, or the reason your vehicle was towed, please call:
- Berkeley Police Customer
Service Counter (Business Hours)
(510) 981-5750
- Berkeley Police
Jail (After business hours, weekends and holidays)
(510) 981-5766.
*Fees and
policies are subject to change without notice*
Q. How
do I report a Traffic issue to the Police?
If there is an emergency, you should call 911. If it is not an emergency,
but is an issue that needs to be addressed quickly, call Berkeley Police
Department's non-emergency number at (510) 981-5900. If it is
something that does not require immediate attention, please fill out the Traffic
Enforcement Form.
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Q. How
do I file a collision report?
If you are involved in an injury collision or one where a vehicle
poses an immediate traffic hazard, you should call 911 immediately.
If you are involved in a non-injury collision that
has significant property damage, you may call Berkeley Police Department
Dispatch at (510) 981-5900 and report the accident.
A formal police report is not necessary in cases of
accidents that do not involve injury and have little property damage. In
these cases, the involved parties must exchange insurance and
identifying information and should then contact their insurance companies.
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Q. How
long can I park in a metered spot when the parking meter is broken?
Berkeley Municipal Code Section 14.52.130 states, " Where parking
meters are installed in the City, if the parking meter is inoperable for
any reason, the time limits posted on the parking meter shall be enforced
during the hours of operation of parking meters."
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Q. I
Have questions about Berkeley's Red Light Camera Enforcement Program.
The City of Berkeley is instituting a red light camera program that is
being rolled out by the Office of Transportation. For comprehensive
information about this program please visit the Berkeley
Office of Transportation.
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NARCOTICS AND VICE QUESTIONS
Q. How
do I report drug or prostitution activity in my neighborhood?
If you see drug activity, you may call Berkeley Police Department's Secret
Witness Program at "THE COPS" 843-2677. You can remain
anonymous. COPS calls are considered priority calls. Police try to respond
to these calls within 5-minutes.
You can also call Berkeley Police Department's
non-emergency number at 981-5900 or for cases that require a more in depth
investigation, you may call Berkeley's Special Enforcement Unit directly
at (510) 981-5818.
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Q. Is
it worth calling even if I do not have all the information and I just
suspect drug dealing or other illegal activity?
Yes. You may be one of several calls. Your neighbor may also be calling in
and together the information may give the police a better picture of what
is happening.
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Q. What
should I say to the dispatcher if I think someone is selling drugs? Should
I call that in if I only think someone is selling?
You should call the police under these circumstances. You can indicate
that you see some suspicious behaviors that might be related to possible
drug dealing. Then tell the dispatcher what you see. They will know what
questions to ask in order to get the information they need.
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Q. Will
the police respond to my call if I don't leave my name and number with the
dispatcher?
It is always better to leave a name and number, but it is not required.
The reason it is preferable to leave this information is that officers may
need to contact the caller to get additional information. All calls are
treated the same whether or not the caller identifies themselves.
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Q. I
have found used needles on my property. Who should I call?
The City of Berkeley has its own Office
of Health and Human Services. Please follow the link to their
website to find out about the services they provide to the
community. They can also be reached by telephone at (510) 981-5300.
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REPORTS
Q. How do I
obtain a letter of good standing?
Letters of good standing are often required for travel visas and changes
in citizenship. You can come to the Front Counter of the Police
Station at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way between 8a.m. and 5p.m. and
request a letter of good standing.
You may also send a letter that includes your
complete name, date of birth, drivers' license number (if you have one),
your passport number, and the address you lived at in the City of
Berkeley. You must also include in this request a very clear copy of your
identification. We must be able to clearly see the photo and read the
information on your identification. Failure to provide us with a clear
copy of your identification will delay the processing of your request, and
your request may be returned to you, requesting clear copies of your
identification.
You must include a $10.00 check made payable to the
City of Berkeley - Police Department. Also, enclose a self-addressed
stamped envelope for the return of your Good Conduct Letter. Mail
your request and documents to:
Berkeley Police Department
2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
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Q. How
do I obtain a copy of a police report?
Police Reports are available for a fee at the Berkeley
Police Department or by U.S. Mail. Fees are based on the number
of pages of the Police Report, except auto collision reports, which
are $10. Collision reports
are only available to the parties involved in the collision or their
designated representatives. Authorized representatives must have written
authorization to obtain a copy of the report. Written report requests
should include the date/time of the incident, report number, and location
of the incident. For more information, visit the Records
Detail to obtain the information necessary to obtain
records or mail your requests to:
Berkeley Police Department
Attn: Records
Detail
2100 Martin
Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley,
CA 94704
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ALARMS
Q. What constitutes a false
alarm?
A false alarm is defined as the activation of an alarm system through
mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence
of the owner or lessee of the alarm system or his/her employees or agents.
This does not include alarms caused by earthquake, windstorm, or other
violent conditions.
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Q. How
many false alarms do I get before I have to pay a fine?
There is no charge for the first false alarm. Below is a table for the
current fee schedule.
Fees are subject to change,
whereupon a notice will be sent out.
|
False alarms within
a 90 day period: |
Fine
|
| 1 alarm |
No Charge
|
| 2 alarms |
$75
|
| 3 alarms |
$100
|
| 4 alarms |
$125
|
|
Any subsequent alarms
will be fined at $125 each.
|
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Q. What
happens if someone fails to pay the fine for false alarms?
If payment for a false alarm is not received within 30-days of the invoice
date, the address will be placed on a No Response List until
payment is made. If an alarm event occurs at the address on the No
Response List, police will not respond.
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Q. What
can I do to reduce false alarms?
1. Purchase a quality alarm system that has been installed by
professionals working for a licensed alarm company.
2. Provide proper training to all employees so that they are familiar with
how the system works.
3. Have your alarm system tested on a regular basis.
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GENERAL
QUESTIONS
Q. When
does the Police Department do Public Fingerprinting?
The City of Berkeley Police Department only does Live scan Fingerprinting (no ink printing) processing
for the following purposes:
1. Prospective
employees of Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD)
2. City of Berkeley Employees
3. Business owners in the City of Berkeley i.e. taxi cab drivers
All other persons interested in obtaining the Live scan services
but are not of the three categories listed above may call or go to the University
of California at Berkeley Police Department and obtain them there.
All fingerprinting is done at
the Berkeley Police Department
for a fee of $20. There may be additional fees depending on the
purpose of the fingerprinting. We ask that upon scheduling your
appointment you specify the employer who is requesting the process.
All persons who wish to be fingerprinted should call the City Jail at
510-981-5766 and schedule an appointment. All appointments are made
for the following days and
times: Mon - Fri - 9:00 AM, 9:15 PM, and 9:30 AM only. Payment
is to be made in cash.
All fingerprint applicants must have
photo identification and the live scan application. WE
DO NOT FINGERPRINT FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES. We are
not certified to provide fingerprinting services to persons
applying for US Citizenship.
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Q. How
do I find out about employment with the Berkeley Police Department?
The first step in the application process is to fill out an interest
card and application with the City of Berkeley Human Resources
Office. More information about this process can be found on our
employment
page. The application process for a police officer involves a
written test, a physical agility test, an oral board interview, a
background investigation, and a physical and psychological
examination.
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Q. What
are the Jail's visiting hours?
Visiting is allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Saturday, Sunday
and Holidays, or between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during a person's second
calendar weekday in custody. Visitors must be 18-years or older and have a
valid identification. More information can be found at the Berkeley
Jail Page.
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Q. Does
the Berkeley Police Department conduct public auctions?
The Berkeley Police Department no
longer conducts public auctions. We now contract our auctions out
through First Capital Auction. Please contact them at (707) 552-0739
for auction information.
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