Berkeley police adjust patrols due to staffing shortages

BERKELEY, Calif. (KRON) — Fewer police officers are patrolling certain parts of Berkeley as a result of significant understaffing at the Berkeley Police Department. The department decreased the number of its beat teams from 16 to 14. The change went into effect on Saturday. BPD originally had 16 beat teams assigned to certain areas of the city, but with the officer shortage, the teams weren’t fully staffed. Jessica Perry, BPD’s spokesperson, says it’s a balancing act. The department used to divide staff into 16 beat teams with seven or eight officers on each along with two sergeants, but that wasn’t…