Why were FIVE Berkeley Police Officers sitting in TRAFFIC court for two hours this morning?

Or better yet, why were we, the citizens of Berkeley, PAYING for 5 Berkeley Police Officers to sit in traffic court for 2 hours this morning?

This past spring finally the city wisely ended their policy of paying 5 or 6 police officers to stand guard in front of MRS (marine recruiting station) doors protecting military recruiters - who are getting highly paid (by us) to ensnare our youth into the violent web of cannon fodder for our empire – from a handful of CodePINK women protesting their violent presence in our peace-loving city.

Yet today, five of those same police officers appeared in traffic court with the main honcho of the MRS, the captain, and sat for two hours waiting for what they thought was an infraction case to be heard.

An infraction. Traffic court.

In case we have forgotten as some seem to have forgotten, an infraction is a MINOR violation of the law which carries no jail time or hefty fine but merely a ticket and/or fine if found guilty.

This is a priority for our police in this day of budget crisis and dwindling funds?

And why were the police sitting cozily with the military? The very same military that has NOT stopped training our youth to become killers as we keep our troops in Iraq, escalate troops in Afghanistan, and increase killing in Pakistan?

Why were the police not sitting on the other side, with the citizens of Berkeley?

Maybe these upside down, inside out priorities are but a poor reflection of our larger society, but I would expect and hold Berkeley to higher standards and priorities that reflect our long-standing, elevated core values of peace, sanctuary, equity, love, anti-war we mostly all hold so dear here.