Kensington Police Department

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Sergeant Jose Rivera for his recent graduation from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI), Class 563.
Among other things, the program is designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement front-line supervisors.

Over 8 months, the curriculum guides students through an analysis of management (planning, organizing, directing) and leadership (inspiring, challenging, developing). Students read and discuss numerous leadership books, write numerous papers, and are required to create, write, and present a project. All this while still maintaining their normal work duties.

We are proud of your accomplishment Sgt. Rivera, we look forward to your continued success with Kensington PD and the ideas you will bring forth!

Fun facts:
Sergeant Rivera was nominated by his peers and asked to give a speech during the graduation ceremony along with two of his classmates. His speech focused on leadership in law enforcement, generational progress, and looking beyond achievement to reflect more on the leaders we become throughout our profession. He wrapped up his speech with their class motto, "Be the Leader You Would Follow."

Sergeant Rivera is also the fifth person (the last to graduate in 2023) to attend SLI from Kensington PD since the program was designed and implemented in 1988 by California law enforcement professionals, top educators, and trainers.

05/19/2026

The Kensington Police Department advises of multiple water main breaks affecting traffic in the area.

There is a water main break on on Kenyon Ave near Westminster Ave, impacting southbound traffic. A second water main break has also been reported on Highland Ave.

EBMUD crews are currently on scene, and additional resources are being brought in to address the issue.

Motorists should expect possible road closures and delays for the next 3–4 hours due to emergency repair work.

We encourage the public to avoid the area, use alternate routes, and allow extra travel time.

05/13/2026

04/25/2026

🚓 Community Update: Important Reminder on Sidewalk Parking 🚓

Hi everyone! We’re reaching out with a critical update regarding an issue we’re seeing frequently: vehicles parked blocking sidewalks.

We Hear Your Frustrations
Kensington presents unique parking challenges, and we understand the difficult choices residents face daily. We know:

Driveways are often shallow, making it hard to fit a car without encroaching on the sidewalk.

Residents park on sidewalks to protect cars from being sideswiped on our narrow streets.

Many garages are used for storage rather than parking, adding to the congestion.

We truly appreciate everyone doing their best with limited space, but we must address the consequences of this congestion.

The Crucial ADA Impact: This is About Your Neighbors
While blocking sidewalks is a violation of California Vehicle Code § 22500(f), this is fundamentally an ADA accessibility issue.

We have received heartfelt reports from disabled members of our community, specifically those in wheelchairs, who cannot use the sidewalks because they are blocked by cars. This isn't just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier to their safety and freedom of movement. Sidewalks must remain clear for everyone—including wheelchair users and parents with strollers.

KPD’s Commitment and Our Balancing Act
Finding solutions requires a careful balancing act, both for you and for us. The Kensington Police Department must manage:
✅ Safe traffic flow on narrow streets.
✅ Residents' legitimate parking needs.
✅ Guaranteed ADA accessibility for all.

We must achieve this balance together. While officers are issuing warnings and citations to repeat violators, our main goal is awareness and cooperation.

Please, do not obstruct the sidewalk.

By working together, we can maintain Kensington’s character while ensuring our streets and sidewalks are safe and accessible for every neighbor. Thank you for doing your part! 👮‍♂️

04/25/2026

🚔 Now Hiring: Kensington Police Department

Tired of mandatory overtime eating your days off? Fighting outdated software more than fighting crime? KPD is different.

We're a 10-officer department in the East Bay hills in Contra Costa County offering something rare in California law enforcement: a professional policing career without the grind but with competative compensation.

What that actually means:
✅ Full staffing — rare mandatory OT and predictable schedules. You'll actually use your days off.
✅ Call volume that lets you do the job right, not just clear the queue
✅ Near-paperless operations. Even citations are
✅ Brand-new patrol fleet. Current-gen BWC, ALPR, and mobile tech
✅ Leadership that decides with officers, not at them
✅ A community that knows your name — and backs you up
Especially smart for experienced officers:
👮 Coming off a high-volume agency and ready to do the work without the burnout
👮 Retiring out of a non-PERS agency and want to finish your career in California with CalPERS service credit OR you have retired out of a non-PERS agency and want CalPERS service credit.
Spend your shift doing police work — not fighting software.

📩 Interested? Apply at www.joinkensingtonpd.com or email [email protected].

03/29/2026

One Team. One Mission. 120 Miles of Desert. 🌵🚓

This weekend, KPD’s own Sgt. Lande and Officer Fajardo joined forces with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office to hit the pavement for this weekend . The 2026 Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay is a challenging 120mi relay race through the Mohave Desert. Officers endure extreme heat, headwinds, and long distances to complete the race.

B2V is about more than just the miles; it’s about the strong partnerships that keep our communities safe. The CCSO teams sucess this year is the result not just of individual runner performance, but the complex team logistics needed to get 20 runners, alternates, catchers, chase (support) vehicles, and athlete transportation. Our officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the CCSO team to take on the ultimate test of law enforcement endurance, and the results speak for themselves.

Team CCSO Perofrmance:

The team finished the relay race in approximately 19 hours and 22 minutes!

The KPD Performance:

Sgt. Brian Lande (Stage 6): Conquered the grueling uphill rollers into Shoshone, placing 49th out of 271 runners (Top 18%!) while battling through 95°F Mojave heat. ☀️🏃‍♂️

Officer Fajardo (Stage 10): Hit the gas for the high-speed 5.8-mile sprint across the state line into Pahrump, Nevada, providing a critical "second wind" for the team as they pushed toward the finish. Officer Fajardo exceeded his projected pace by 30sec per mile. That is digging deep!💨🏜️

A huge thank you to the (Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office ) for the work of the team captains, volunteers, joint effort and incredible camaraderie. We’re heading back to the Bay Area with a deeper bond, a faster team, and a lot of pride! 🏅🤝

Lastly, thanks to Kensington Poa for co-sponsoring KPD's runners!

03/27/2026

KENSINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE — SCAM ALERT

⚠️ DON'T BE FOOLED: Government Impersonation Scams Are Surging This Tax Season

The Kensington Police Department is warning residents about a rise in fraudulent notices that appear to be official government documents. These scams impersonate the IRS, the California DMV, the Franchise Tax Board, and other agencies — and they are becoming increasingly convincing.

What to know:
The IRS, FTB, DMV, and California courts will never contact you by:

📱 Text message or SMS
💬 WhatsApp or any other messaging app
📞 Unsolicited phone call demanding immediate payment
📲 QR code directing you to a payment portal

Legitimate government agencies initiate contact by U.S. Mail only. If you receive a mailed notice, you can verify it by calling the agency directly using a phone number from their official government website — not a number printed on the notice itself.
Red flags to watch for:

Threats of immediate arrest, license suspension, or credit damage
Demands for payment via gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or QR code
Instructions telling you not to call anyone to verify
Vague or missing violation details (no case number, no specific court)

If you receive a suspicious notice:

Do not scan any QR codes or click any links
Do not call the numbers listed on the document
Report it to the KPD at (510) 526-4431 or to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Your police department will never ask for payment by phone, text, or QR code, either.

03/23/2026

🚔 DUI Arrest Following Solo Vehicle Collision 🚔

On the evening of March 22, Kensington Police officers were working a DUI saturation patrol funded by a grant from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) when they responded to a solo vehicle collision near Colusa Avenue and Curry Avenue.

Officers located a vehicle that had left the roadway and come to rest in a creek. The sole occupant was safely assisted from the vehicle by Kensington Fire Department personnel. During the investigation, officers observed signs of alcohol impairment. After conducting a DUI investigation, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

The driver was later transported to a local hospital for evaluation of minor injuries and was cited for the DUI offense.

Grant‑funded enforcement efforts like this saturation patrol help remove impaired drivers from the road and improve overall traffic safety in our community.

🚫🍺 Don’t drive impaired. Plan ahead. ✅

03/19/2026

🚨 WE'RE HIRING 🚨
$10,000 SIGNING BONUS | $100K–$146K SALARY
Kensington Police Department is looking for our next great officer.
Are you ready for a department that actually invests in you?
📍 Tucked in the Berkeley Hills with bay views, great neighbors, and a community that has your back — KPD is the Bay Area's best kept secret.

What we offer:
💰 $10,000 signing bonus
💵 $100,154 – $146,532 salary + 4% raise locked in for July 2026
🏠 Take-home patrol car
📱 Issued department cell phone
🏋️ New station, new gear, new uniforms
🗓️ Flexible scheduling
📚 Paid training & professional development
🏖️ PTO that honors your prior years of service
🔒 CalPERS retirement — 3% @ 50 or 2.7% @ 57
🏥 90% paid medical + dental, vision & AFLAC
Plus specialty assignments: Traffic, Detective, Mobile Field Force & Human Trafficking Task Force.

Laterals. Recruits. Reserve Officers. All welcome.
Our hiring process is fast and straightforward — apply, oral board, Chief's interview, background. That's it.

📲 Apply now: www.joinkensingtonpd.com
📞 Call us: 510-277-5576
📧 Email: [email protected]
Tag someone who should be wearing the badge. 👇