Following the deaths of two unhoused men Sunday at Civic Center Park, the Berkeley Police Department announced a plan Tuesday to increase police presence in the park.
According to BPD spokesperson Officer Byron White, the deaths and an additional hospitalization were likely due to drug overdoses. BPD plans to send officers from the Community Services Bureau, which consists of four liaisons each assigned to one area of the city. Additionally, White added that BPD plans to send patrols from the Bike Force, which usually works in downtown Berkeley.
“The department is sending people over there just to see what, if anything, we can provide to the public — just kind of reach out and talk to people,” White, who is part of the Community Services Bureau along with a crime analyst and two supervisors, said. “It’s not necessarily an enforcement matter. It’s really just to see what kind of assistance we can provide if people would like assistance.”