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New Police Chief Roy Meisner has taken the helm of a department that will have to struggle to maintain police services with a high percentage of young officers and a reduced budget. 

The department, which was budgeted at $39.5 million this fiscal year, could face between 5 percent and 15 percent in cuts over the next two years. In addition, many senior officers took early retirement following a statewide retirement enhancement, leaving the department with many inexperienced officers.  

The new chief said he’s confident the department will rise to the occasion through teamwork and a revitalized partnership with the community. 

Meisner, 53, has already logged 30 years with the Berkeley Police Department. He began his career as a police trainee and quickly progressed through the ranks. Promoted to patrol officer in 1973, he then made sergeant in 1979. He later was promoted to inspector, lieutenant, captain and then, in 1993, deputy chief.  

City Manager Weldon Rucker gave Meisner the nod in March after a statewide search for a new top cop. He replaces Dash Butler, who retired in July after 11 years as chief and 31 years in the department.  

“I think Chief Meisner’s experience and his character will assist in the development of those young officers and the department’s shift toward community policing,” Rucker said. “One thing for sure is that he listens and understands how to get good end results.” 

City Councilmember Betty Olds agreed that Meisner is an “excellent” choice for chief. 

“There are a lot of things I like about Roy, but one of the main things is that he always follows through,” she said. “You don’t get that very often with city staff because they are so overworked. He wants desperately to do a good job and you never hear anything bad about him.” 

During an interview in his office on the second floor of the Public Safety Building, Meisner displayed an easy and engaging manner, reminiscent of a congenial high school teacher or baseball coach — both professions he considered while studying at UC Berkeley.  

The walls of his office are decorated with family photos and group pictures of Berkeley Police officers at various award ceremonies and fund-raising events.  

“I’m very fortunate to be a part of this department and this community,” he said. “Berkeley is a very special place to work.” 

He is an advocate of community policing and said the best model for law enforcement is one that includes an active partnership with residents, merchants and city organizations. 

“Historically we’ve seen a great collaboration with the community, and when that happens there’s a huge impact on crime,” he said. “When block captains and patrol officers get to know merchants, neighborhood groups and church groups, that gives them an invaluable familiarity.” 

Meisner compared community policing to a mail delivery person who knows the neighborhood from routinely delivering mail and talking with neighbors. 

“That person knows when something is out of place, a car that’s not normally in a driveway or when a person is strange to the neighborhood.” 

The city of Berkeley has a community policing model in place and one of Meisner’s priorities as chief is to strengthen the working relationship with the community. More than half of city residents are new since 1995, he said, and the same is true of police officers. 

Meisner said he plans to schedule a series of town meetings to generate connections between the department and the community. 

“On a routine basis, we expect our officers to spend as much time as possible out of their cars, getting to know residents and merchants on their beats,” he wrote in his Chief’s Message posted on the department’s Web site. 

To contend with a likely budget shortfall, Meisner instituted changes to duty assignments. He eliminated some administrative positions, reassigning those officers to patrols, and plans to assign non-sworn employees to jobs traditionally carried out by sworn officers, further freeing officers for patrol work.  

“We have a bunch of lesser experienced officers who are going to be a tremendous asset to the department,” he said. “We also have a lot of retired officers who have come back to work part time and that will help us tremendously with our work load. It’s a great opportunity for our newer officers to learn from experienced officers.” 

Meisner was studying sociology and playing baseball at UC Berkeley in the late 1960s (“I still remember the smell of tear gas drifting over center field during the riots,” he said) when he saw an ad in the Daily Californian offering ride-alongs with Berkeley Police patrols. Impressed, he went to work for the department immediately after graduating in 1972. 

Meisner said he looks forward to being chief and explained the long-term goal that has governed his career as a police officer.  

“When I retire, I want to walk away with a smile and know I’ve done a good job,” he said.