Distrubance In South Berkeley

This guy is still screaming. The police are there supposedly dealing with the matter. I am trying to work, so I go out to find out what is going on. I approach the scene, prompting one officer to tell me that I need to step back. I ask how long they are going to be here. She tells me that they can't give me any information. I tell her that I am trying to work inside. I ask if they are going to take him or what. She tells me that I need to step back, then complains that I am blocking traffic when they are taking up over half of the road, raising her voice as she does so.

Another officer comes over and politely asks how he can help me. He says that they called some mental state group. I ask how long he thinks it will take. He estimates ten minutes or so. I thank him for telling me politely.

What I want to know, is the precise distance that we are allowed to stand before the police when they ask us to step back. I know that the Black Panthers knew in their day, and I see know why having that information on the top of our heads is so useful.

Any other suggestions about what to do when it is questionable whether the police are doing their job?