Beloved El Cerrito Cop, 26, Killed In Freeway Crash

El Cerrito CA

10 January, 2022

4:57 PM

Description

EL CERRITO, CA — El Cerrito police were grieving one of their own Monday. A beloved 26-year-old officer was killed in a traffic collision Sunday, the El Cerrito Police Department said. Jerrick Bernstine was driving home from work Sunday on Interstate-80 near San Pablo Dam Road when a van in front of him lost control and collided with a center median, police said. Bernstine crashed into the van and died at the scene, police said. Bernstine was a 2019 Academy recruit nearing his two-year anniversary with the ECPD, which would have been next month. pic.twitter.com/pFiPwMNR5x— El Cerrito Police (@ElCerritoPD) January 10, 2022 He was described as a determined crime-fighter who lived to help others. "Officer Bernstine was passionate about giving back to his community and became a police officer after first working as an in-home caregiver," the ECPD said in a statement. "In his two years with the ECPD he was recognized as a model officer, combining a humble personality with a tenacious crime fighting spirit. "Officer Bernstine was 26 at the time of his death and he was everything a person could hope for in a police officer, citizen, teammate, son, brother, and friend."