Antioch Police Officers share thoughts on police staffing, crime in letter to the community

The Antioch Police Officer’s Association would like to take a moment and address concerns regarding crime and the hiring of additional police officers. We are extremely pleased to see the citizens have raised their voices regarding these issues. We appreciate the support we as police officers have received from both the community and our city council. It is grass root efforts that will make this city come together and reduce the crime in our community.

The APOA has had recent meetings with Mayor Harper and other council members in an effort to establish goals and continue to bring more officers to the fight. In the last year, we have made great strides in both hiring of new officers and lowering crime with directed patrol efforts and we are seeing a difference. We believe Mayor Harper and the council are dedicated to giving the Antioch Police Department the resources it needs to reduce crime.

The Antioch Police Department Administration along with the Human Resources Department have been working diligently to conduct interviews and hire the most qualified applicants for the available positions. It is imperative to understand that this is a very long tedious process but crucial to find the best officers. We the APOA want everyone to understand, the crime problem within our community, did not occur over night. The economic downturn, prison release programs, and poorly written propositions are all part of the equation. There is no one person to blame for the crime in our community and this includes Mayor Harper.

The APOA would like to ask the community to come together and use this grass roots momentum to reduce crime. There are several steps you can take which will greatly affect our efforts.

If you see suspicious activity or a crime in progress please call. You can remain anonymous but please remember you are our best witness. Become part of your neighborhood watch program, this will have a direct effect right in your own backyard. Volunteer within the community for events such as neighborhood clean up or become one of our many volunteers in Police Services.

In closing, the APOA feels that we do have the support of the Mayor and council as well as our community. We can see a light at the end of the tunnel and with your help can make great strides in solving this problem.

Thank you,

President
William Dee


One Comment to “Antioch Police Officers share thoughts on police staffing, crime in letter to the community”

  1. Rich says:

    The only way to reasonably address this open letter is with facts, something of which is sorely lacking. For each statement made in the original open letter, I have commented individually on those warranted:

    “The APOA has had recent meetings with Mayor Harper and other council members in an effort to
    establish goals”

    FACT: Since Mayor Harper has had numerous goals, my sincerest hope is that they will come to fruition. My question is simple, what are those goals? It is a fact that neither Mayor Harper or the rest of the council can be trusted to follow-up on goals and promises.

    “continue to bring more officers to the fight”

    FACT: The end of 2010, the APD staffing was 98. Currently, as of 03/13/2015, it is 87 (minus 7 on medical). It appears your math needs some help., that’s an 11% reduction – not increase. There has
    been no net gain. Harper promised an immediate hiring of 22 sworn personnel for Measure C. That’s obviously a joke. He also promised to hire more officers in 2012. A falsehood.

    “In the last year, we have made great strides in both hiring of new officers”

    FACT: In the last year, from March 28, 2013 to the current March 13, 2015, there has been a net increase of 1 officer. From 86 to 87. Those numbers do not include the reduction for medical. I guess an increase of 1 is a great stride compared to the the fact were still not close to the 98.

    “lowering crime with directed patrol efforts and we are seeing a difference”

    FACT: Yes, given the last year only, violent crime has gone down. However, compare year end 2010 with year end 2014 and tell me how Harper’s “under his leadership” promise of being tough on crime
    and zero tolerance has worked out. How about a 27% increase in overall crime. How about a 35% increase in property crimes. Property crimes effect people too!

    “We believe Mayor Harper and the council are dedicated to giving the Antioch Police Department the resources it needs to reduce crime”

    FACT: Since Mayor Harper is adamant about taking responsibility and boasting “under his leadership” abilities, can you honestly believe he or the city council (which he has been part of since 2010) is dedicated to giving the APD resources? Certainly not in a timely manner! Had he started when he said he would in 2010, resources could have been acquired then, not 3 years later.

    “The Antioch Police Department Administration along with the Human Resources Department have been working diligently to conduct interviews and hire the most qualified applicants for the available
    positions. It is imperative to understand that this is a very long tedious process but crucial to find the best officers”

    FACT: This is true! And Human Resources even states every month, “The City is conducting continuous recruiting in an effort to fill the vacant sworn Police Officer positions authorized in the
    budget. These efforts have been in place since October 2012, and continue through today.” Does this sound like Mayor or the City Council has been dedicated to giving the APD resources? Crime and violence is not new to Antioch and it should have been the #1 priority. It should have started in 2010, basically not the beginning of 2013. The reality is that none of these efforts started until I
    stood in front of the Mayor and council to advise them that our group was starting a recall.

    “We the APOA want everyone to understand, the crime problem within our community, did not occur over night”

    FACT: This is another “duh” statement. If Harper ran on the crime and violence platforms in 2010 and 2012 and the APOA did not endorse him, I would agree that crime and violence was here then. I
    guess I would have to agree that you did not have the faith in him either until you needed something.

    “The economic downturn”

    FACT: The economic downturn started in 2007 and was over in 2009, nice try. How can I say that?
    Because the City of Antioch paid out certainly had the funds, even though they lied about it. More falsehoods.
    $1,130,000 in overtime only to police in 2011,
    $1,485,000 in overtime only to police in 2012,
    $2,119,000 in overtime only to police in 2013,
    Certainly, the City of Antioch had the monetary resources to pay out $4.734 MILLION in overtime and some of that could have easily been used for hiring additional sworn officers and/or code
    enforcement, etc. Instead, the citizens were lied to about Measure C and Measure O. Another falsehood.

    “prison release programs”

    FACT: What! The FACT is that Contra Costa County went decades without releasing a single inmate early, but had to start doing so in 2013. “We still have capacity for misdemeanors, DUI,” said
    Undersheriff Mike Casten. Why pray tell are you blaming the crime of non-existent criminals. Put those numbers out there where everyone can see them.

    “There is no one person to blame for the crime in our community and this includes Mayor Harper.”

    FACT: If a person, via campaign promises, speeches and responses to recalls, writes his/her own job description they have to live with it. You are correct, not one person is to blame. However, when that one person takes ownership and claims victories “under his leadership” it is all inclusive of not only himself but all he influences – including the council of which he has been a part of since 2010.

    FACT: When that same person changes the way the council operates, down to even minor changes, then he has every right to be responsible for what he claims – “under his leadership”.

    FACT: When that very council withheld information to the public of a tremendous series of three payments from the collection of property taxes for a period exceeding 6 months, ergo delaying the
    conversion back to “a full-service city” over 9 months, delaying bringing personnel back to full-time, delayed the citizens the right of access to full service – that is hardly anything other than being
    dishonest and self-serving.

    “The APOA would like to ask the community to come together and use this grass roots momentum to reduce crime. There are several steps you can take which will greatly affect our efforts.”

    FACT: The fact is there are literally tens of thousands of hours annually, per the Chief, that this community does in support of the City of Antioch, the Antioch Police Department and it’s various
    programs. This is done out of the goodness in our hearts and desire to have a community that we can feel safe in and be proud of.

    “If you see suspicious activity or a crime in progress please call. You can remain anonymous but please remember you are our best witness. Become part of your neighborhood watch program, this will have a direct effect right in your own backyard. Volunteer within the community for events such as neighborhood clean up or become one of our many volunteers in Police Services.”

    FACT: Unless I misunderstood what the Chief stated last week, literally tens of thousands of hours are volunteered annually in support of the APD. In addition, the city is the recipient of the efforts of thousands of individuals, volunteering annually even tens of thousands more hours. This again is done as volunteer work. People volunteer because they want to and people are doing just that. We all are tax paying citizens and would like to get a little bang for out buck. When needed we rise to the occasion.

    “In closing, the APOA feels that we do have the support of the Mayor and council as well as our community.”

    FACT: If you truly believe that you have the support of the Mayor and the city council, I can only surmise that you are wanting something again. The old adage about the village idiots, etc. seems to be appropriate. The facts speak for themselves. We the people support the City of Antioch and associated services/departments. What you are feeding us is garbage, you know it, we know it, don’t try to pull the wool over our eyes.

    The leaders of Antioch have shown time after time after time that they can not prioritize, they are self-serving and can’t be trusted. How is it possible you can display your trust when you knowingly are as unbelievable.

    The citizens of Antioch are well aware of the relationship between yourselves and the “leaders” of this community. We know who you did or did not endorse/support with each election and why. When you want something or have something to barter, you lobby. Other than that, your silence is deafening – and appreciated.

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