Campus and city police in Berkeley are on high alert today after conservative author and commentator Ann Coulter cancelled a planned speech at UC Berkeley following weeks of back-and-forth between campus officials and student groups about free speech vs. hate speech on campus.

The UC Berkeley Police Department said they are expecting extremists to arrive on campus today and are preparing for the possibility of violence, for which they said they would have a low tolerance. Coulter, who was originally scheduled to give an address on immigration policy tonight, announced she was cancelling the event yesterday after the student groups sponsoring her backed down. UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks wrote an op-ed in the New York Times on Wednesday laying out the school’s position.

How are police preparing for the possibility of extremists and violence on campus? What is the reaction from students, faculty, and residents of the city of Berkeley?

We reached out to the UC Berkeley Police Department and the City of Berkeley police, but neither responded to our request for comment in time for air. We also contacted the Daily Cal, UC Berkeley’s student newspapers, who said they are not giving interviews at this time.

Guest:

Tim Williams, retired LAPD senior detective supervisor (Robbery-Homicide Division), 1974-2003; owner of T.T. Williams Jr. investigations