Wednesay AM Update

I have had an email conversation with Officer Belman who previously was the school safety officer until Albany USD defunded the program last year.  He is going to begin the proper investigation of the crimes and threats. 

This communication occurred when another parent who had his email made the re-introduction.  He was the first responding officer on scene (arrived after I did) when the "Arranged Beating" occured -- he was able to see and witness the behavior of the "gang" of kids who reamined on school property and who would not respond to his or the school district personnels commands.  He is also the officer I had to demand walk my son and me to the car and I again went into detail how out of hand things had gotten but that this was a festering, longterm multi-kid problem.

We have worked with Officer Belman when my son was shot by another AMS student with an airsoft rifle in an ambush at our home and another incident that happened last school year.

To be clear this issue still has not been responded to by the Albany Police Chief or any officer he delegated -- no email, no phone call, no home visit -- despite being contacted by me multiple times -- and publicly shamed.  My understanding is that a parent may have heard about the "scheduled beating" before it was to occur last Tuesday and contacted the Albany Police and no one responded -- I have not been able to confirm that -- but if so that is incredibly troubling.

Officer Belman upon direct contact via email was the one who stepped up and said he would begin the investigation.  Since he has the most experience with kids and the population of kids this invovles that is as good a match as can be had.

At this point, other parents whose kids have been targeted with extreme cyberbullying, extreme bullying in school or violence/other crimes in the community should work with their kids to summarize the incident/s, develop a timeline and get a complete list of kids invovled & any witnesses -- and then contact Officer Belman directly.  There are different statues of limitations for different crimes -- but if you do the prep work with your kids, it will make this process easier on everyone involved.

If you have heard that other kids have been attacked or targeted please reach out to their parents and make sure they speak with Officer Belman & Alameda County Victim and Witness Assistance -- or put them in contact with me (peter.c.leahy@gmail.com or 510-54-LEAHY) and I will try and point them in the right direction.  Some incidents are apparently happening in El Cerrito Plaza/BART/Bikepath and that will involve Contra Costa Country and the El Cerrito Police.