Kensington Police Department

On October 27, 2024, Kensington Police Officer Gill's quick response and decisive actions saved a woman's life in Berkeley. Responding to an emergency medical call, mistakenly located in Kensington, Ofc. Gill responded to the area of Oakview Ave and Colusa Ave for a report of a female victim who was unconscious, not breathing, and lips turning blue. Ofc. Gill checked the area and determined the victim was not at the initial location. With the assistance of Albany PD Dispatch, he quickly located the unconscious victim in a residence in nearby Berkeley. Ofc. Gill identified signs of a narcotic overdose and administered Narcan, which revived the victim before Berkeley Fire arrived. When the brain is deprived of oxygen, death can occur in as little as five minutes. Ofc. Gill's efforts ensured the victim received critical medical attention in time.

On October 25th, Kensington Police Department Officers were deployed to the Antioch Police Department to assist the city with violence suppression. The operation was in response to an increase in gun violence in recent months. KPD officers were partnered with Antioch officers to assist in directed crime prevention. The crime suppression operation was successful and officers made numerous felony arrests and recovered stolen fi****ms. KPD is proud to support our allied agencies and communities in Contra Costa County. Public safety is a team effort.

Join us for National Prescription Drug on Friday, October 26th, between 10am and 2pm! Discover collection site locations near you www.DEATakeBack.com.

offers a safe and free opportunity for communities across the nation to dispose of old medications discreetly. On October 26th, from 10am to 2pm, bring your unused prescription drugs to a nearby collection site. Visit www.DEATakeBack.com to find one near you.

As autumn arrives, it's the perfect time to tidy up your medicine cabinet. On October 26th, from 10am to 2pm (local time), properly dispose of your unneeded Rx meds. Locate a collection site today: www.DEATakeBack.com

Expired or unused prescription medications pose a public safety risk. Safeguard lives and protect the environment by participating in on October 26th. Share this post and get ready for the event at www.DEATakeBack.com.

Dispose of your surplus Rx drugs with no questions asked! Join us for on Saturday, October 26th, from 10am to 2pm. Find a convenient collection site near you at www.DEATakeBack.com.

Kensington Location:
NORTH Parking Lot
Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
1 Lawson Road
Kensington, CA 94707

ADVISORY: “Zone Status Change” from the Genasys Protect App DOES NOT affect Kensington / El Cerrito Residents.

Good evening,

The Kensington Police Department & Kensington / El Cerrito Fire Department want to inform our citizens of updated information.

Some residents in Kensington and El Cerrito received a “Zone Status Change” from the Genasys Protect App because some zones in Berkeley changed their status to “Alert” due to the extreme fire weather conditions through Saturday morning.

Contra Costa County has no status changes or evacuation orders, and the El Cerrito/Kensington Fire Department is in contact with the Berkeley Fire Department. If an evacuation order or warning happens in Kensington, you will receive a message from the community warning system.

Please stay alert and continue to monitor CWS.

Respectfully,
Acting Chief of Police Amit Nath
Fire Chief Eric Saylors

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for all of Contra Costa County from 11 pm on 10/17/24 until 5 pm on 10/19/24.

We are working with our partners at Kensington Fire to provide you with the most current information and recommendations for emergency preparedness. Please visit the Kensington Fire Protection District page for additional information at https://www.kensingtonfire.org/redflag.

Red Flag Warning Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19

What's Happening
- Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for the East Bay Hills and all of Contra Costa County due to current Fire Weather conditions impacting most of the Bay Area.
- A Red Flag Warning is issued when conditions with low humidity, high winds, and dry fuels are expected.
- This will be in effect from 11PM tonight, Thursday, 10/17/24, until 5PM Saturday of this week.
- Critically low humidities coupled with high winds have the potential to rapidly spread fires that are ignited in the wildland.
- These conditions may also lead to PG&E shutting off power in certain areas as a precautionary measure.
- Currently, neither El Cerrito nor Kensington is in the scope of a public safety power shutoff (PSPS) by PG&E.

El Cerrito-Kensington Preparedness
- The Fire Department will post Red Flag Warning Signs at critical District locations.
- Public messaging about the current Fire Weather has been shared via our social media channels.
- The District of Kensington remains monitoring the situation in coordination with PG&E and County OES.

Resident Preparedness: What to do if you live in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
- Stay informed: monitor information from trusted sources, including the National Weather Service.
- Practice Wildfire Safety: Do not burn, mow grass, or do any activity that may spark a fire in your area.
- Be Prepared: Have an emergency plan, pack a go-bag, sign up for alerts, and learn more about wildfire preparedness on the Listos California website at https://www.listoscalifornia.org/
- Know Your Zone: In case you need to evacuate, check what Evacuation Zone you are part of on the County CWS website at https:/

The TASER has become an indispensable tool in contemporary policing, offering significant advantages as a de-escalation device that enhances officer safety while protecting the public. By providing a non-lethal means to subdue potentially violent individuals, TASERs help reduce the necessity for higher levels of force, thereby minimizing the risk of serious injury to both officers and civilians. For decades, this technology has proven effective in various situations, allowing officers to manage confrontations more safely and efficiently. Its presence in law enforcement not only aids in controlling potentially dangerous encounters but also fosters trust within the community by demonstrating a commitment to using proportional responses, ultimately contributing to safer streets for everyone.

Our Officers are required to undergo rigorous annual certification training on its deployment and use. We have a contemporary, industry-approved policy for its deployment and use. Thanks to the Board of Directors for approving the program and Sgt. Lande, thank you for coordinating and supervising the training we are receiving.

Kensington, officers will begin patrolling your neighborhoods with these new tools over the next few weeks as they complete training and are assigned the equipment. Please head to our FB page and watch the informative video on the all new Taser 10!

The TASER has become an indispensable tool in contemporary policing, offering significant advantages as a de-escalation device that enhances officer safety while protecting the public. By providing a non-lethal means to subdue potentially violent individuals, TASERs help reduce the necessity for higher levels of force, thereby minimizing the risk of serious injury to both officers and civilians. For decades, this technology has proven effective in various situations, allowing officers to manage confrontations more safely and efficiently. Its presence in law enforcement not only aids in controlling potentially dangerous encounters but also fosters trust within the community by demonstrating a commitment to using proportional responses, ultimately contributing to safer streets for everyone.

Our Officers are required to undergo rigorous annual certification training on its deployment and use. We have a contemporary, industry-approved policy for its deployment and use. Thanks to the Board of Directors for approving the program and Sgt. Lande, thank you for coordinating and supervising the training we are receiving.

Kensington, officers will begin patrolling your neighborhoods with these new tools over the next few weeks as they complete training and are assigned the equipment. Please head to our IG page to see photos from our recent training and still images of the devices.

The TASER 10 Story - A New Era in Less-Lethal Technology This is "The TASER 10 Story - A New Era in Less-Lethal Technology" by Axon Inc. on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Kensington Officers were delighted to show support for the El Cerrito High School Sexual Assault Awarness Club. The club was fund raising across the street from the Kensington Farmers Market. Public safety is a community effort!

Join us for Police In The Park on Wednesday, September 18th, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

We invite you to join us at Kensington Community Park for snacks, refreshments, and conversation! We encourage our youth and parents to come out and meet our new police officers, check out our fleet of vehicles, and meet members of the KPPCSD District staff. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please see the flyer attached.

Thinking of the family and friends of the officer killed in the line of duty last night and all those involved.

Kensington, we had a great time at Cookies With The Cops. Thanks to everyone that came out, especially all the kids, we hope you enjoyed yourselves. Special thank you to the members of MHET Team & personnel that came out, we appreciate the agency collaboration and support!

Join us for Cookies With The Cops on Wednesday, August 21st, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

We invite you to join us at Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese in Kensington for cookies, refreshments, and conversation! We encourage our youth and parents to come out and meet our new police officers, check out our fleet of vehicles, and meet members of the KPPCSD District staff. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please see the flyer attached.

Thank You, Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese, for hosting Coffee with a Cop this morning!!!

National Night Out is coming up. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The goal is to make neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August.

Remember to register your block. We look forward to visiting with you all again this year!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesPVdf2OmXb2sK16nykftuY1FJQYaIdBe2cZZWgQatE6gm4A/viewform

We are terribly saddened by the loss of Officer Matt Bowen who tragically passed this morning after being struck by a vehicle while on duty.

Our condolences to his wife, two young boys, the department, community, and all who knew Matt 💙🙏🏼

***REPOST from Vacaville PD***
It is with profound sadness that the City of Vacaville Police Department confirms the tragic passing of Officer Matthew Bowen, who was killed this morning in the line of duty.

Officer Bowen was initiating a traffic stop and was struck by a vehicle. The driver was taken into custody. Officer Bowen was transported to Kaiser Hospital and despite the best efforts of emergency responders, he succumbed to his injuries.

Officer Bowen started with the City of Vacaville on June 13, 2023. Prior to, he served as a Police Officer with the City of Concord Police Department. He has served with the highest level of dedication and honor, and his loss is deeply felt by the Department, the City and the community. He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents and brother.

It is with much gratitude that we thank our neighboring agencies who have poured out a tremendous amount of support during this time. We request that the public respect the family’s privacy as they are faced with this heartbreaking loss.

The California Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation. Media inquiries regarding the investigation of this incident should be directed to the California Highway Patrol, Golden Gate Division Public Information Unit.

Contra Costa County Community Academy Fall 2024

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/ready-gov_full-suite_hazard-info-sheets.pdf

Download the FEMA All Hazards Checklist Today

www.ready.gov

Extreme Heat Wave Through Next Week - Stay Hydrated

Excessive Heat Warning and Heat Advisory

Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades and fireworks. The National Safety Council advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home.

Every year, thousands of people are injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents, with many of the injuries to children and young adults. While the majority of these incidents are due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade or other illegal fireworks or explosives, less powerful devices like small firecrackers and sparklers can also cause significant injuries.

Using fireworks not only puts you at risk of fines but it also endangers our community. Fireworks can cause serious injuries, start fires, and disturb neighbors and pets. CALL (510) 525-7573 to report illegal fireworks.

Please plan to attend one of the many sponsored fireworks shows in the greater bay area this 4th of July. Let’s keep Kensington safe and celebrate responsibly.

Come out and have a cup with us Wednesday, July 17th, from 9am to 11am.

We invite you to join us at Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese in Kensington for a cup and conversation!

We encourage citizens to come out and meet members of KPD and District staff. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please see the flyer attached.

There has been a recent increase in property crime in the District, concentrated in the area of Kenyon Ave, Purdue Ave, and Westminster Ave. The Kia sedan was recently used in one of these crimes (contact us at 510-525-7573 with any leads). Specifically, there has been a cluster of mail theft, theft of items from vehicles, vehicle break-ins, and a residential burglary. KPD is aware and providing additional patrol to the area.

I want to thank our amazing community for all their help in investigating and preventing these crimes. Here are some things you can do to help similar crimes in the future:

Preventing Vehicle Thefts:
1. Lock Your Vehicle: Always lock your vehicle, even if it's parked in your driveway or garage.
2. Remove Valuables: Never leave valuables in your car, especially where they can be seen.
3. Park in Well-Lit Areas: If possible, park in well-lit areas. Thieves are less likely to target a vehicle if it's in a well-lit area.
4. Use Anti-Theft Devices: Use devices like steering wheel locks or car alarms to deter thieves.

Preventing Mail Theft:
1. Secure Your Mailbox: Consider investing in a lockable mailbox, a package box for larger deliveries or use a P.O. Box.
2. Don't Leave Mail Overnight: Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
3. Monitor Your Mail: Keep track of the expected delivery dates of your packages or important mail.

Preventing Burglaries:
1. Lock Doors and Windows: Always lock your doors and windows when you're not home. Consider investing in deadbolt locks for added security.
2. Install a Security System: Consider installing a security system with an alarm and cameras.
3. Use Outdoor Lighting: Good outdoor lighting can deter burglars.
4. Don't Advertise You're Away: If you're going to be away, don't advertise it on social media. Have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
5. Know Your Neighbors: Knowing your neighbors can be one of the best security measures. They can keep an eye on your property and report any suspicious activity.

Remember, the key to preventing theft is to make it as difficult as possible for a thief to access your property. Stay safe! 😊