Calif. City Rejects Proposal to Restore Police Use of Tear Gas
What to Know
- The Berkeley City Council voted 5-4 to keep its ban on police use of tear gas, rejecting a proposal that would have allowed it during certain high-risk emergencies.
- Supporters said the restrictions limit officers responding to violent incidents, hostage situations and barricaded suspects, while opponents argued tear gas can cause serious harm and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
- The proposal also would have eased other police restrictions involving canine units and riot gear, but council members voted against the changes.
A divided Berkeley City Council voted on Tuesday to keep a restriction on police use of tear gas, rebuffing an attempt to allow officers to use chemical agents in “high-risk emergencies.”
In a 5-4 vote, the council rejected a proposal to do away with the tear gas ban, which was put in place after the 2020 protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
The proposal would also have rolled back other restrictions on police tactics, such as the use of canine units and riot gear, with supporters of tear gas use arguing that the restrictions are outdated and delay officers responding to violent crimes and other emergencies.
But opponents warned that the changes give police access to tactics that can cause serious injuries or disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Mayor Adena Ishii made the reason for her opposition clear, saying “now is not the time.”
“We’ve seen the use of tear gas being abused across the country, and yet we’re having a conversation right now about lifting a ban on the tear gas that we have here in our city,” Ishii said. “It’s really important to take a look at where we are in our history.”
The proposal, introduced by Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani and amended by Councilmember Brent Blackaby, would have permitted tear gas only during tactical operations involving barricaded suspects, hostage situations or high-risk warrant service when no reasonable alternatives were available.
It explicitly banned the use of tear gas for crowd control or demonstrations.
Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra said undoing restrictions on tear gas would go against the “resistance to the Trump administration.”
“Adopting these changes would send a clear and disturbing message about our city council’s priorities,” Lunaparra said. “To me, it is clear that the risks far outweigh any possible benefits.”
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