I arrived at CMS about 60 minutes before game time. I walked up to the concourse area on the west side and immediately saw two police officers holding what looked like semi automatic rifles. They appeared to be patrolling. I have to ask, why? Why did they bring overwhelming fire power to a football game? When was the last time a police force needed that kind of fire power at a football game, anywhere in the US? How is this anything other than the normalization of military-style policing? I have to assume it was UCPD. This is not OK. Put the guns away. No need for that. All you're doing is greatly increasing the risk that someone gets shot with a rifle. In the 100+ years of Cal Football nobody has ever needed a semiautomatic rifle at CMS.
Let's not allow this to become the new normal.

Agree. I have posted about this before. They were there for Minnesota game, and two more at Oski's village for that game. The head of ucpd is the former chief of police for the us capitol. It's dangerous imo, and just asking for trouble having them out there looking like there's a serious threat. Somebody set a cop car on fire awhile back. Not sure if this is related, but lately they seem to be prepping to crack down on something. There is no reason for this. It doesn't make people feel safe.

Too late. To paraphrase what a prominent poster on this site posted this morning, "McCarthy was right."

Now, shut up, and watch the games.

Maybe they were responding to reports that a well-known extortionist was going to show up in a brazen attempt to take our well earned, saved and invested endowment away.

Pretty crazy. Personal opinions aside, I have taken my 9 year old daughter the past 2 games. Not only did she notice, she seemed legitimately scared (maybe not of the actual cops so much) and asked "is there going to be an explosion." Seems beyond unnecessary.

Bobodeluxe said:

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Too late. To paraphrase what a prominent poster on this site posted this morning, "McCarthy was right."

Now, shut up, and watch the games.

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This alll started before Trump, after 911, if that is the inference.

Now normal to have some heavily armed police at large public events that are soft targets, like stadium venues. It in only increasing with mass shootings. It isn't just Cal - seen it at SoFi and even at the Hollywood Bowl. The ACC recently issued a bunch of new security protocols, which include third party security reviews and acting on their directives.

Usually those guys are supposed to be low profile, but perhaps now if they are high profile, that is viewed as a deterrent by the ACC or whoever is calling the shots (no pun intended)..

I appreciate the viewpoints shared. Has anyone talked to the police or the university why they are using a show of force? I would surmise they are a lot of threats no one knows about. Perhaps it is protection for a large crowd of people. Berkeley is not loved unversally. It certainly would discourage an evil doer and avoid post event comments from arm chair quarterbacks. Most churches and temples now have armed individuals to be able to worship. I can't imagine how parents have to discuss armed security at many elementary schools now.

Doesn't bother me one bit. Have you seen what's been happening at soft targets recently. I'd rather err on the side of caution than be ill-prepared if something were to happen.

I lean to preferring somewhat higher profile security after reading about the Orlando Pulse nightclub killings. The terrorist had wanted to murder scores of children at Disney World, but the high profile presence of several armed security at the entrance dissuaded him. Unfortunately, Pulse had only 1 armed defender and once he was taken by surprise they were all defenseless.

TomBear said:

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Doesn't bother me one bit. Have you seen what's been happening at soft targets recently. I'd rather err on the side of caution than be ill-prepared if something were to happen.

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That really makes one wonder whether we are still living in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I take the point. I'd point out:

- The Glock semi automatic pistols most US police carry have quite a bit of firepower

- I've seen police with semi automatic rifles in both France and Denmark. Personally didn't bother me.

peterprescott said:

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Most churches and temples now have armed individuals to be able to worship.

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I have seen synagogues where off duty police show up on holy days and sabbath -- especially since the recent round of troubles.

I've never seen armed law enforcement at a Catholic Church save for those who show up with their squad car to direct traffic for about 10 min after Mass lets out.

I don't mind the Good Guys being at least as heavily armed as the Bad Guys, but it's a little disconcerting to imagine what might happen if something were to go horribly wrong in a crowded stadium and the Good Guys (competent, but maybe not expert) are using assault rifles. At that point, maybe it gets better, but maybe it gets worse, in terms of the number of innocent fatalities.

Hm, I hope you never have to travel through BRU, ZRH, or other European airports. It's not uncommon to see police there rocking SMGs and PDWs.

I guess I must be in the minority here who feels safer knowing that there is a visible security presence at a soft target like a stadium.

I saw them, too. Definitely UCPD. Standing there in military garb with these huge ominous looking rifles and doing nothing, looking bored. Very disturbing. I don't mind armed, regular police officers patrolling to keep us safe. But this is quite scary and way too much.

A decade from now our games will be patrolled by armed flying drones and military robot dogs AI networked by Palantir. We're going to look back on this like the good days, as some people nostalgically look back on the 00s even after the hyper militarization of police had already begun.

bigtuba1 said:

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I arrived at CMS about 60 minutes before game time. I walked up to the concourse area on the west side and immediately saw two police officers holding what looked like semi automatic rifles. They appeared to be patrolling. I have to ask, why? Why did they bring overwhelming fire power to a football game? When was the last time a police force needed that kind of fire power at a football game, anywhere in the US? How is this anything other than the normalization of military-style policing? I have to assume it was UCPD. This is not OK. Put the guns away. No need for that. All you're doing is greatly increasing the risk that someone gets shot with a rifle. In the 100+ years of Cal Football nobody has ever needed a semiautomatic rifle at CMS.
Let's not allow this to become the new normal.

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I saw this too. Full battle dress with rifles. I asked them why - was there some sort of threat or something- They said no, standart procedure. BS. I have been coming to games for decades and never seen so many police. Is this the world we live now?