The Berkeley Police Department (BPD) is currently facing changes as members of the Police Accountability Board (PAB) have stepped down, the director of the police accountability office was recently dismissed, and the Berkeley City Council considers proposals to change long-standing policies.
Proposals: On Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, the Berkeley City Council’s Committee on Public Safety Policy advanced a proposal written by Council member Rashi Kesarwani removing a 1997 requirement for BPD to report the use of oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray) to the City Council for review. Kesarwani additionally introduced two new proposals which have yet to be voted on. The first proposal would rescind Berkeley’s 2020 ban on tear gas, allowing use by the Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) under circumstances in which there is a significant risk of injury or death, while maintaining the prohibition on the use for crowd control. The second proposal would change how BPD requests outside law enforcement for resources such as helicopters and canine use. Currently, requests require approval from the city manager; the proposed change would allow the chief of police to make those.
Disagreements: The PAB, a committee of nine Berkeley residents selected by the mayor and a city councilmember, raised concerns about the proposals in a memo to the Committee on Public Safety Policy. They pointed out that BPD has historically used tear gas and pepper spray very rarely, and that the new proposals carry possible legal and financial liability for the city.
Resignations: On Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, two of the most experienced members of the PAB, Dr. Kitty Calavita and Juliet Leftwich, resigned from the board. Both had previously served on Berkeley’s Police Review Commission (BPRC), an organization first formed in 1973 as one of the first civilian oversight groups in the county with authority to investigate claims against police officers. The PAB replaced the BPRC in 2020 after voters passed a measure to strengthen civilian oversight over police. Calavita and Leftwich cited concerns about the board’s limited authority over policing decisions in their resignations, highlighting challenges with the current oversight structure.
Dismissals: On Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, the Berkeley City Council voted in a closed session to dismiss Hansel Aguilar from his former role as Director of Police Accountability for the City. This decision followed a pattern of public disagreements between Aguilar and the council.