Antioch adds two new police officers, during Monday ceremony
New Antioch Police Officers German Blanco, left and Chris Motl, with Chief Allan Cantando following their oath of office ceremony, Monday, March 21. photo by APD
On Monday, during a ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility, two new police officers were added to the force, Antioch resident Chris Motl and Hayward native German Blanco.
Chief Allan Cantando shared the following information about each of the new officers:
Officer Chris Motl grew up in Antioch, California and was an Explorer for the Antioch Police Department from 2005-2009. During high school Chris played water polo, was on the swim team and wrestled. He graduated from Antioch High School in 2006.
He joined the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Machine Gunner and served one tour in Ramadi, Iraq. While in Iraq, Chris drove an MRAP and received an award for driving on missions for other squads as well as his own. He obtained an Associate of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from American River College. He is excited to begin his career as an Antioch Police Officer and contribute to bettering the community that he grew up in.
Chris likes to surf, hike, and practice martial arts during his free time.
Funny Fact – When Chris was an Explorer for Antioch PD he got to tour San Quentin Prison. At lunch they served the same food that the prisoners ate and he was the only one in the group to eat the bologna sandwich provided by the prison. During the tour Chris received numerous cat calls from inmates due to his “model” looks.
Officer German Blanco was born in Hayward, California and was raised in Modesto. He graduated from Grace M. Davis High School in 2008 where he played basketball all four years. He was the team leading scorer as well as Team MVP, Conference MVP, 1st team All District, and an All-state nominee. He continued playing basketball for Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. German also played basketball at Columbia College in Sonora, California where he led his team in scoring as well. While in College, German studied General Education and Criminal Justice.
Prior to getting hired with the Antioch Police Department, German was a Correctional Officer with the Napa County Department of Corrections for nearly two years. He gained invaluable law enforcement experience while working in custody. German completed the 179th basic police academy at the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Law Enforcement Training Center in March, 2016. German has been with his fiancée, Vanessa for seven years and they are tying the knot this year in Pacifica, California. (German chose to write that about his fiancée because he did not want her to get mad if he didn’t include her.)
Blanco enjoys anything fitness related and he is a regular at his gym where he trains four to six days a week. However, he loves food to the point where everyone who knows him well calls him the human garbage disposal. German and his fiancée enjoy going on cruises together and he proposed to Vanessa on a cruise.
Funny Fact – German’s mother has a nickname she has called him since he was a toddler and still does until this day. She calls him Peanut head because she thinks his head is small and German kind of agrees.
Their addition brings the total to 94 sworn police officers in the department.
the attachments to this post:
Blanco Cantando Motle
