Frustrated Parents at UC Berkeley Raise $40,000 for Unarmed Security Guards Amid Rising Crime Concerns
A group of concerned parents at UC Berkeley has taken matters into their own hands by raising $40,000 to hire unarmed security guards to monitor city streets around the California campus. The move comes after continued concerns of rising crime in the area.
The parents and community members of SafeBears, a nonprofit organization started in 2022, successfully raised the funds at the end of 2023 to launch a pilot program aimed at implementing security guards in the surrounding area of the college. The pilot program was officially launched on March 6, with six security guards from Streetplus, a private contractor, patrolling five routes around the campus on foot and by bicycle from 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.
According to SafeBears’ website, the organization worked closely with the private contractor on the final steps of the program. The contractor has experience providing security services to crime-ridden areas like Oakland and San Francisco.
The security guards, although unarmed, are equipped with radios to call the Berkeley Police Department if needed. SafeBears emphasized that the guards will not carry pepper spray, batons, handcuffs, or any other defensive equipment. Their role is to provide a physical deterrence to any threats against students, and they can call for backup if a situation escalates.
Additionally, the security guards will be available to escort students to other areas if requested, further enhancing the safety measures in place.
However, a spokesperson from UC Berkeley raised concerns about the effort, noting that the campus has its own safety measures in place and that any security efforts must be coordinated with the campus police department. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to campus safety and suggested that university funds would be better spent on hiring more sworn or non-sworn officers for daily response efforts.
Despite the concerns raised, the parents involved in SafeBears remain committed to their initiative and hope that their efforts will spur the campus to take action and implement a similar program in the future.
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