Community

A near standing ovation recognized members of the Berkeley Police and Fire Departments as they took to the field prior to the kickoff of Saturday’s Cal Berkeley versus Arizona football game. The group of city employees were recognized for their response efforts in the deadly fires in Napa and Sonoma counties.



Also honored were members of the student body who in the interest of public service volunteered to help those impacted by the fires. Among them was Mathew Smith, a former Santa Rosa resident and current UC student. Smith had originally been invited to participate in the pre-kickoff ceremony but felt it wouldn’t have been appropriate without representation from the Berkeley Fire and Police Departments who he had the opportunity to work with. Smith extended the invitation to both city agencies and we are extremely grateful for his call.



The Sunday, October 22, 2017 day shift, marked the Berkeley Police Department’s final mutual aid shift in support of the fires. Since the fire began two weeks ago, BPD covered over 200 patrol shifts (most officers working more than one 12-hour shift) in the affected areas.



All of the officers who participated in the effort were amazed by the kindness, gratitude, and hospitality they received from people who, in some cases, lost nearly everything. We are humbled by their outpouring of support and grateful to our friends at the Cal Berkeley Athletic Department for allowing us to join them on the field.















