View source for VII.R. Anti-Police Safety and Security Policies

<u>Non-Collaboration Policies for Law Enforcement</u>

Existing policy bans harassment, assault, the possession of firearms, and the mishandling of confidential information in the BSC. In the interest in protecting the livelihood of BSC affiliates, the BSC has developed the following non-collaboration policies for law enforcement.

1. A BSC staff person or BSC member shall not provide voluntary consent to any local, state, or Federal law enforcement agency or officer thereof to inspect any property of the BSC.

2. No BSC member or employee shall use any BSC funds or resources to assist in the enforcement of the law or to gather or disseminate information about our members or staff or any other such personnel.

3. The above sections 1 and 2 shall not apply if the law enforcement agent provides a valid, current warrant or subpoena.

4. If a BSC member or employee consents for law enforcement to inspect BSC property, they are responsible for:
:a. Inspecting the warrant or subpoena 
:b. Notifying BSC stakeholders they have allowed law enforcement to inspect BSC property,
:c. Working with unit-level managers or Staff management to steer law enforcement away from vulnerable members, and
:d. staying with law enforcement agents from when they arrive until they leave, and
:e. ensuring an incident report is filed with appropriate internal bodies. 

<u>Policies for Requesting Law Enforcement to Enter BSC Property</u>

1. Unless there is a threat of imminent danger of bodily harm, all BSC-affiliated people must actively use the most appropriate option before requesting law enforcement enter BSC property.

2. Appropriate options include, but are not limited to:
:a. Good-faith consultation with other members or staffers in the vicinity.
:b. On 8PM-8 AM Fridays and Saturdays, contacting [https://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/mh-first-oakland Mental Health First], a program of the Oakland based Anti-Police Terror Project, by phone or text at 510-999-9MH1 for urgent non-police mental health emergency dispatch, Domestic Violence intervention and  support planning, substance use support, basic medical first aid, homelessness aid, and advising for concerned members calling about someone else. 
:c. Calling 510-981-5254, Berkeley’s Mobile Crisis team otherwise known as CATT Team. is available on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. One can ask for that specifically. As opposed to a typical 911 response, the [https://berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/mental-health/crisis-services Berkeley Mobile Crisis Team] has a trained response team that is not supposed to bring militarized police presence, and oftentimes police will show up even when asked not to. On non-Berkeley Mobile Crisis hours, police are guaranteed to be a part of the service provided, so there is a need to 1) stress it’s a mental health situation, if that is accurate and 2) make it explicitly clear that police officers with militarized demeanors and equipment will not be generative for the situation. Either way, ask for a response with the primary goal of avoiding involuntary detainment and involuntary hospitalization and helping the person out of crisis. 
::i. Additional suggestions include asking for a social worker or Berkeley Health/ambulance response only, requesting no police lights and sirens be called, requesting the police car to park off-site if arriving with the Mobile Crisis Unit. 
:d. Calling 211, the 24/7 [http://211alamedacounty.org/2-1-1-alameda-county-resource-finder/ Emergency Housing, Health, and Social Services hotline in Alameda County] to identify housing support and basic needs resources for unhoused residents and other residents facing precarity. For non-local calls, the equivalent number is 888-886-9660. 
:e. Calling 1-800-309-2131, the 24/7 hotline for [https://www.crisissupport.org/programs/crisis-line/ Crisis Support Services of Alameda County] for members in mental, re-traumatizing crises.
:f. Calling 510-845-7273, the 24/7 English and Spanish hotline for Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR) for survivors seeking support. Alternatively calling 510-643-2005, the 24/7 [https://care.berkeley.edu/care-line/ PATH to Care hotline].
:g. Calling 1-866-866-7496, the 24/7 withdrawal support hotline recommended by [https://www.acbhcs.org/SUD/docs/SUD_Helpline_Brochure_English.pdf Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services].
:h. Any resource in [https://dontcallthepolice.com/oakland/ dontcallthepolice.com] online directory. 
:i. Calling 510-981-5911, the direct number to the Berkeley Fire Department. Ask specifically for Emergency Medical Services or firefighting services. More specific numbers for specific services are detailed on the [https://berkeleyca.gov/Fire/Home/Contact_Us.aspx Fire Department section of the City of Berkeley Website]. 
:j. Calling 510-891-5600, the 24/7 Alameda County Mobile Crisis Unit/Mental Health Services hotline, which sometimes services Berkeley.

3. If a BSC-affiliated person requests law enforcement enter BSC property, they accept that they are accountable for:

:a. Notifying BSC stakeholders they have called law enforcement*,
:b. working with unit-level managers to steer vulnerable members away from law enforcement presence, and
:c. staying with the law enforcement from when they arrive until they leave.
:d. ensuring an incident report is filed with appropriate internal bodies. 

4. Threatening to call or actually calling law enforcement authorities on an individual maliciously, especially if on the basis of protected identity, is prohibited by BSC policy and, in many cases, the law.

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*It is understood that a member needing medical assistance may not have time to do so. For genuine health emergencies, a good faith effort to try is fine.
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''[Approved at Board #1 (3.2.23)]''