A gaggle of pissed off dad and mom at UC Berkley have raised $40,000 to rent unarmed safety guards to watch metropolis streets across the California campus after continued issues of rising crime.
Dad and mom and neighborhood members of SafeBears, a nonprofit group began in 2022, raised $40,000 on the finish of 2023 to launch a pilot program to implement safety guards within the surrounding space of the California college.
SafeBears’ pilot program was launched on March 6, the group mentioned in a release.
Six safety guards from Streetplus, a non-public contractor, are patrolling 5 routes across the campus on foot and by bicycle from 6:30 p.m. to three a.m. every day.
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SafeBears employed a crew of safety guards to patrol UC Berkeley and the encircling space at night time for a number of weeks, hoping it’s going to spur the campus to motion and begin an identical program. (Courtesy of SafeBears)
Based on SafeBears web site, group management mentioned that they labored with a non-public contractor on the ultimate steps of the packages.
The group mentioned that the private contractor labored on offering safety service to crime-ridden areas like Oakland and San Francisco.
College of California, Berkeley entrance signal on the nook of Oxford Avenue and Heart Avenue at Berkeley, Calif. (iStock)
SafeBears mentioned that the safety guards is not going to be armed throughout their patrol, however can have radios to name the Berkeley Police Department if wanted.
“Our Streetplus ambassadors will not carry pepper spray, batons, handcuffs, or any other defensive equipment,” the web site mentioned.
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“Their role is to provide a physical deterrence to any threats against students. If they encounter a situation they feel is escalating, they are equipped with radios and can call for other ambassadors to assist,” the web site mentioned. “Additionally they have a contact at Berkeley Police Division within the occasion the state of affairs turns more serious.”
The safety guards may even be out there to escort college students to different areas if requested, SafeBears mentioned.
UC Berkeley college students stroll by means of Sather Gate on the UC Berkeley campus April 17, 2007 in Berkeley, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Photos)
A spokesperson from UC Berkeley raised issues in regards to the effort to Fox Information Digital and famous the campus’ personal efforts to maintain folks protected.
“Hiring private security raises a number of concerns including the training and experience of individuals hired by such firms,” the spokesperson warned. “Further, any security effort on the campus must be coordinated with UCPD, independent of the funding source.”
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The spokesperson contested that funding can finest be utilized in different methods.
“We believe that university funds are better spent hiring more sworn or non-sworn UCPD officers for standard daily response efforts. Parents who want to donate funds toward additional campus security can do so via a university fund that has been established,” the spokesperson wrote, “We do not believe that private security should take precedence over hiring sworn officers. In addition, a holistic approach to campus safety is required and is the most effective approach.”
Fox Information’ Alexander Corridor contributed to this report.
