Emilie Raguso/Berkeleyside

A Berkeley City Council member who ran a red light in July suggested a police officer who pulled him over should let him off, citing the raise he had just voted for as part of confidential contract negotiations with the police union, Berkeleyside has learned.

During the stop, Councilman Ben Bartlett immediately told the officer who he was and said he had just taken a “big stand” to push for an increase in police compensation. Even after he learned he’d only get a warning for running the light, and a “fix-it ticket” for not having his license, he wasn’t pleased.