The Editor's Back Fence

The Berkeley Police Department will have a new Public Information Officer, replacing Sgt. Mary Kusmiss, sometime this summer. According to Capt. Andrew Greenwood, Investigations Division Commander, "the PIO position is among several others (e.g. some detective positions, etc.) that are due for rotation at our next shift selection/rotation process, currently scheduled for late June." 

No replacement has yet been announced. Captain Greenwood noted that "her considerable experience and skill set will not quickly or easily be replaced." 

On March 9, Sgt. Kusmiss was sent by Chief Michael Meehan to the home of Bay Area News Group reporter Doug Oakley at 1 a.m. to ask for corrections to a story Oakley posted regarding Meehan's comments at a meeting with citizens to discuss the Peter Cukor killing. This prompted a storm of criticism in the media and elsewhere.