COPWATCHING in Berkeley, CA

that's interesting. It's such an unclear area of law describing how people might observe the police, because it is clearly legal for citizens to remain at the scene watching, but it is also legally encoded that the police are the ones to determine a safe watching distance. In addition, first amendment cases have demonstrated that journalists may cross ordinary police lines due to freedom of the press, but there is also some distance at which police can exercise judgment to require them to stand.
Once I was cycling at night on the N-S bike route west of San Pablo, and I came across a scene like at minute 4. Because it was dark, you couldn't see what was happening, and they didn't have staff to block off that end of the street. As we approached, you could finally see a line of police aiming their guns at people being ordered out of a vehicle, with us now positioned in the line of fire. The officers didn't say anything to us though.

THANK YOU COPWATCH!!!!!!!!

This town is crowded w/ mentally unstable sociopaths. Cops make it easier for us all to walk down the street more safely. Many thanks to Berkeley Police!!
And thanks to cop watch for reminding cops to keep it real.