On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Berkeley City Council voted 8 in favor, with Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani being absent, in a closed session meeting to dismiss the Director of Police Accountability (DPA), Hansel Aguilar. Aguilar’s dismissal will take effect one month after the DPA receives a written notice regarding the council’s decision.

Aguilar has been the DPA since October 2022, after Berkeley residents voted 85% in favor of the establishment of the PAB and Office of the Director of Police Accountability (ODPA) in an effort to work towards just, impartial policing in Berkeley.

Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii issued a statement affirming that the Council remains committed to ensuring police accountability, stating that, “The Berkeley City Council is firmly committed to police accountability, and we recognize how deeply these issues matter to our community. The Office of the Director of Police Accountability (ODPA) plays a critical role, and we remain focused on fully supporting the office and the Police Accountability Board (PAB) so that both entities can carry out their responsibilities effectively. The Council is focused on ensuring we stay on track with our plan.” She then further elaborated on what exactly the Council’s plan includes, highlighting that they were focused on: “filling all PAB vacancies in a timely manner, finalizing the PAB regulations, ensuring the Board and the ODPA have the tools they need to succeed, restoring credibility, trust, and respect for both the accountability process and the people involved in this work, [and] hiring a replacement that has the expertise and commitment to accountability work.”

This statement to reassure voters and local residents follows questions and concerns raised about the future of the PAB.