Berkeley Police Chief's Message to Reporter Upsets Union

Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan has been apologizing for ordering his department's spokeswoman to go to a reporter's home to request changes to an article.

However, the chief's mea culpa did not prevent the city's police union from making clear that its 160 members were disturbed by Meehan's actions early Friday.

Berkeley Police Association President Tim Kaplan issued a statement Sunday saying rank-and-file officers are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of Berkeley residents, including Bay Area News Group reporter Doug Oakley.

Bay Area News Group Managing Editor Bert Robinson says Oakley and his bosses are ready to accept the chief's apology and move on.

Meehan was unhappy with the reporting of his remarks about the beating death of a resident whose non-emergency call about an intruder had gone unanswered.