City of Berkeley, CA

05/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/19/2026 17:18

Help select the next Director of Police Accountability

Give input on the head of civilian police oversight via May 26, June 9 public meetings or, by June 10 via anonymous, online survey

Published:
May 19, 2026
Last Updated:
May 19, 2026

Come to a public meeting and use an online survey to inform the selection of Berkeley's next Director of Police Accountability, who works as the operational arm of the Police Accountability Board to oversee civilian oversight of the Berkeley Police Department.

Your feedback will guide the Mayor and Council, who will oversee the hiring and ongoing oversight of this position.

The Mayor and Council are soliciting public feedback on:

  • What core attributes and competencies residents are looking for in the new Director of Police Accountability
  • What the new director should understand about Berkeley to be successful
  • What they should consider when selecting a candidate for the director position

The City of Berkeley will be taking applications for this nationwide search at the end of May. The Mayor and City Council plan to hold interviews in July and select a candidate afterwards.

Share your priorities directly with elected officials.

  • RSVP to participate online or in person for a special May 26 meeting hosted by the Mayor.
  • Attend the June 9 City Council meeting. Elected officials will discuss the ideal candidate, and the public can offer comments.
  • Complete an online anonymous survey by June 10.

Attend a special community meeting on May 26

City of Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii has convened a community meeting to welcome community members to share thoughts on the next Director of Police Accountability.

Attendants may attend in person or virtually via Zoom. Location information or Zoom link will be shared with participants who have completed the RSVP form prior to the meeting upon registration.

Give input, feedback on next Director of Police Accountability
Tuesday, May 26, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Registration required
Address information or Zoom link shared upon registration by email

Those who cannot make the May 26 meeting can attend the June 9 regular City Council meeting to share their thoughts.

City Council Meeting
Tuesday, June 9, 6:00pm
Berkeley Unified School District Board Room, 1231 Addison Street

Civilian police oversight in berkeley

The Police Accountability Board was established to promote public trust through independent, objective, civilian oversight of the Berkeley Police Department.

Serving as the operational arm of this board, the Office of the Director of Police Accountability accepts and investigates complaints filed by members of the public alleging misconduct by a Berkeley police officer. The Director of Police Accountability also serves as the Board's secretary.

The board:

  • Advises and makes recommendations to the public, City Council, and City Manager regarding the police policy, procedures, and practices.
  • Considers the findings and recommendations of the Director of Police Accountability regarding complaints filed by members of the public against sworn employees of the Police Department.
  • For sustained findings of misconduct, recommends whether discipline is warranted and the level of discipline.

The Director of Police Accountability and the Police Accountability Board were created in 2020 by a voter-approved ballot measure. Those positions report to the Mayor and City Council, while the City Manager directly oversees Police Department operations.

Help the Mayor and City Council select the next Director of Police Accountability in any or all of these ways:

links

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City of Berkeley, CA published this content on May 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 19, 2026 at 23:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]