Extra

Several community groups tonight will present the findings of a "people's investigation" into the death of a mentally ill transgender woman after a struggle with Berkeley police officers in February. 

The Berkeley Police Review Commission is holding a meeting on the issue because Berkeley Copwatch and other groups who prepared a report on the death of Kayla Moore, also known as Xavier Moore, gathered enough signatures to require one. 

Moore, 41, died shortly after a struggle with police that occurred at her apartment at the Gaia Building in the 2100 block of Allston Way shortly before midnight on Feb. 12. 

Berkeley police said they came to Moore's apartment after her roommate reported that she was acting belligerently and that he feared Moore would attack him. 

Berkeley Copwatch spokeswoman Andrea Pritchett said the investigation contains findings about what community groups, including the Coalition for a Safe Berkeley, believe went wrong the night of Moore's death. 

Pritchett said the report also calls on the city of Berkeley to provide more services for people with mental illness, and for the Police Department to provide better training for officers in how to deal with the mentally ill. 

Berkeley police said in a lengthy report in May that they believe Moore's death was an accident and that officers acted appropriately. 

The commission's hearing will begin at 7 p.m. tonight at the South Berkeley Community Center at 2939 Ellis St. in Berkeley. 

JeffShuttleworth0121p10/23/13 

CONTACT: Andrea Pritchett, Berkeley Copwatch (510) 229-0527 Diana Bohn, Coalition for a Safe Berkeley (510) 525-5497 or (510) 926-5871 Berkeley police spokeswoman Jennifer Coats (510) 981-5780 

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