Accountability report finds racial disparities in Berkeley policing council eyes next steps - Local News Matters

During a special meeting, the Berkeley City Council debated findings from the Police Accountability Board regarding racial disparities in local policing. The report revealed that Black residents, who constitute less than 8% of the city's population, account for approximately one-third of police stops. Councilmember Mark Humbert suggested that the figures may reflect stops of non-residents, but officials stated that Black residents are 6. 55 times more likely to be stopped than white residents. Additionally, Hispanic drivers are 1.

7 times more likely to be stopped. The report indicated that Black residents were involved in nearly half of the arrests and use-of-force incidents in 2024. Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra criticized Humbert's comments as dismissive of the experiences of people of color. Councilmembers proposed improved data collection and policy clarification regarding profiling by proxy to enhance community trust. Officials committed to increasing training for police officers to address these disparities effectively.