Berkeley police oversight resignations should be a ‘wake-up call,’ officials say

BERKELEY — Resignations by two members of the Berkeley Police Accountability Board on Friday were described as a “wake-up call,” but for who is up for debate.

Kitty Calavita and Juliet Leftwich announced their resignations in a joint letter Jan. 30, accusing city leadership of ignoring the body’s perspectives and overruling its authority to conduct investigations.

Berkeley has had some form of police oversight for decades, starting first with the Police Review Commission, formed in 1973.