Beloved El Cerrito Cop, 26, Killed In Freeway Crash

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.

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.”