BERKELEY (KRON) — Berkeley police chief Michael Meehan has resigned, Berkeley’s officials confirmed to KRON4.
Capt. Andrew Greenwood has replaced Meehan as Acting Police Chief.
Meehan’s resignation was accepted by City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley, who sent out an announcement to city staff Wednesday morning.
Williams-Ridley expressed gratitude for Meehan’s service and said that during his nearly seven-year tenure, the department has “increased transparency by posting 30 years of crime data as well as department policies, arrests, bookings, calls for service, pedestrian and traffic stops on the city’s website.”
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates heard about the resignation from Williams-Ridley.
“Michael Meehan served as Berkeley’s Chief of Police for nearly seven years and I am grateful for his commitment to the City of Berkeley,” Bates said. “The Berkeley community has benefited from several innovative policing strategies under Meehan’s leadership, including Fair and Impartial Policing training, Crisis Intervention Training, increased transparency, and genuinely working to improve relations between the Department and the Community. The Department participates in National Night Out every year, and Chief Meehan was instrumental in creating the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast, which brings together hundreds of community members, elected officials, youth and others to celebrate the work of civil right heroes and fellowship in unity.”
Meehan’s resignation letter was released Wednesday.
“While there is no good time to leave an organization you have such respect and admiration for, there is a right time and I believe, after discussing with my family, the time is now, Meehan wrote.
He was appointed Chief of the City of Berkeley Police Department on December 31, 2009.
Officers in the police department have responded to the resignation.
“I can’t say it was necessarily expected,” said Berkeley Police Association president Sgt. Chris Stines. “We wish him the very best with his future endeavors and we’re very much looking forward to some positive changes happening in the department. We have a lot of faith in the city manger and city leadership.”Stay with KRON4 News for updates
