Editor:

It would be so easy to say “here we go again”. But, no, I will not let my confidence in our city waiver. Events like shootings are sad, scary and vile. It is time for “Antioch Strong”. We need to pull together from the Delta to the South Hills. From the West hills to Highway 4.

I am not promoting a posse. But I am proposing a change in a way we approach these shootings. Larger cities than ours have found ways to combat these evils. We are not Chicago; we are a good community with some bad people. We are a city full of pride and are poised to take our streets back. We must do that. We must react to criminal behavior, report it quickly and advise police when things are just not right. Some of us do that. Now everyone must.

The act of prevention is the strongest deterrent to violence. Become proactive. It is not hard, even when peeking out your windows. The stop and frisk rule should be easier to implement than it is today. So that the power to stop, question, and frisk suspects, given reasonable circumstances, and to a standard that holds less than probable cause, the standard should be the standard of reasonable suspicion, a question of circumstances of each individual case and officers should determine whether reasonable detention and investigation is validated based upon knowledge of history and common sense.

I for one, want suspicious activity investigated stronger than it is today. Everyone has to pass through a metal detector before boarding an airplane, why not allow as much freedom to police on the street. I know many will feel that my view endorses an unreasonable use of power. But, is not ducking flying bullets in our town, being afraid of walking out at night very similar to the effects of war or terrorism?

I am wide open to alternatives like education, accountability, and other options. I would love to see a laundry list of options other than what I propose that can deter the violence. If I continue to write what is considered unpopular, and it sparks debate and keeps this issue in the forefront, then I am fine with my view.

I understand the position of the issue and the possible targeting those of color, and that is not what I am proposing at all. I am supporting that if the police drive by a known crack- house and they see a car parked out front, they should have a right to stop and ask those inside the car for ID. If they pass a known criminal, they should have the right to stop and question.

I am frustrated that within the last year there have been no less than five shootings, many robberies and a bunch more crimes within range of my home. I am with neighborhood watch, walk my streets, chased people for stealing (seeing me run is a funny sight) and I am just overwhelmed with all of this garbage.

What I propose is not the ideal or politically correct position, that I know. Education is the key. Giving safe options other than violence through engaging church, school, parents, and community in educating that a gun is to defend and not to attack is not working in my view. Any other ideas?

Frederick Rouse

Antioch

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 8:40 PM Antioch Police were dispatched to the 700 block of K Street on the reports of shots being heard. As officers were responding, additional reports came in of a subject down. Upon arrival officers found a 23-year-old male suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers rendered aid until emergency medical services arrived and transported the male to an area hospital where he underwent surgery. Shortly after surgery the victim died as a result of his injuries.

This case is still under investigation. No further information will be released at this time. Anybody having information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Det. Gonzalez at (925) 779-6923. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Corporal Matthew Koch, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 1:19 pm, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to Cruisers Saloon located at 1611 A Street on a report of male suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, it was discovered the responsible(s) fled the area prior to police arrival. The officers contacted a 37-year-old male Antioch resident who suffered from a single gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment where he was listed in stable condition. This incident is still under investigation and no further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. There will be no further information released regarding this case at this time.

At its annual awards Gala on Friday, March 10, 2017, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce honored the Antioch Unified School District for its recent achievements.

Over the past decade, both the City of Antioch and the Antioch Unified School District have faced significant challenges due to the economic housing crisis that began in 2006. However, like the City, the District has capitalized on the strengths of our student population, our families, staff, and the greater community. As a result, AUSD, despite the many challenges, has shown several areas of positive growth.

A Few of the Challenges:

· From 2000–2013, the number of students who speak a language other than English in the home increased from 6% – 20%.

· The number of students residing in group homes has risen 144%.

· 11,468 AUSD students (68%) receive free or reduced lunch, 85% free and 15% reduced.

· The number of students in foster care has risen 252% in the past six years.

· More than 3,100 AUSD students live in poverty as defined by the federal government with families earning less than $10,830 for a one-parent family and $14,570 for a two parent family;

· Currently 441 AUSD students are homeless.

Despite These Challenges, Successes:

· AUSD increased its graduation rate 6.8% in the past year; AUSD now outpaces the state graduation rate.

· The percentage of students graduating eligible to attend a UC/CSU has increased 8.6% since 2010.

· The number of students taking an Advanced Placement exam has grown nearly 71.6% in the last five years while the number of students taking the SAT has increased 29.2%.

· Suspension occurrences have reduced 38% since 2011 while the number of days students are suspended has decreased 48%.

· AUSD now has nine career-themed high school pathways that provide students with real-world experiences; AUSD is a lead district in implementing linked learning in the State;

· After years of deficit spending, the District balanced its budget in 2015 and is no longer deficit spending.

Following are the Antioch Police Department calls for service highlights as published in Acting City Manager Ron Bernal’s Weekly Report dated March 24, 2017 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Calls for Service Summary:

Time Period: 03/16/17 00:00:00 – 03/22/17 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,679

Number of Case Reports: 306

Number of Arrests: 78

Felony:  23

Misdemeanor:  55

Arrests with DUI charge:  0

The data is based upon unaudited CAD/RMS data at time of report generation.

• 3/21/17 at 7:35 pm, officers were dispatched to a call of squatters in a vacant home on Filbert St. When they arrived, they were told by witnesses that the squatters had gotten into a red Toyota and drove it down the street to another address. The witnesses further saw the driver of the vehicle go into the house the car was now parked in front of. Officers found the vehicle and a DMV check found the vehicle had been stolen out of Pleasanton.  Contact was made at the residence with 35 year old Jennifer Prieto, 29 year old Ashley Hammond, and 31 year old Scott Rivera.  Prieto was identified as the person who drove the Toyota to that location.  Prieto was taken into custody without incident for auto theft and possession of stolen property and was transported to County Jail.
• 3/21/17 at 5:22 pm, 51 year old Lamos Sturgis came to Antioch PD for his annual sex offender registration. The officer discovered Sturgis was two months past his required registration date. Sturgis was arrested for failing to register and was later sent to County Jail.
• 3/20/17 at 5:40 pm, officers were dispatched to the Sears store on Somersville Rd. for 63 year old Pete Warren who had been caught shoplifting. Upon arrival, officers learned Warren had loaded a cart with $1,200 worth of power tools, clothing and perfume and placed the cart near an exit door. Warren went to the parking lot, pulled his truck up near the door, and then brought the cart outside to his truck where he was contacted and detained by store employees.  Warren was arrested without incident for burglary and grand theft and was booked into County Jail.
• 3/20/17 at 12:52 pm, the Community Engagement Team (CET) returned to the BNSF property at the foot of F St. and located a total of 12 subjects who were there illegally. Any of the subjects who had been previously contacted there and advised to leave were arrested and transported to County Jail for likely to continue on the charge of trespassing on private property. The remaining subjects were issued citations and released at the scene.
• 3/19/17 at 12:34 pm, an officer on routine patrol in the area of Auto Center Dr. and Mahogany Way located a Chevy Malibu driving northbound on Auto Center Dr. A check of the vehicle’s license plate showed the vehicle was stolen out of the City of Martinez during a carjacking. The officer followed the vehicle into Century Plaza in the City of Pittsburg while he waited for cover officers to arrive.  The driver, 22 year old Anastasia Atencio, sped off, and a pursuit ensued.  The officer pursued the vehicle westbound on Century Blvd.  The vehicle crashed into a street sign pole in the Winco parking lot in North Park Plaza.  Atencio was arrested without further incident.  Martinez PD was contacted and they responded to the scene and took custody of Atencio.  Pittsburg PD also responded and took the collision report.
• 3/18/17 at 8:30 pm, officers were dispatched to a home on Lincoln Lane for a report of trespassing. Upon arrival, officers located 28 year old Emmanuel Rader trespassing in a shed. Rader was arrested without incident and sent to County Jail.
• 3/18/17 at 8:45 am, an officer observed an older Honda in the area of the Holiday Lodge on W. 10th St. and saw the driver make attempts to avoid contact with the officer. The vehicle parked across from the Holiday Lodge and the rear passenger quickly walked away. He was later identified as 38 year old Lawrence Murphy. He was found to be in possession of .45 caliber ammunition. During a search of the Honda, officers located a stolen .45 caliber handgun under the passenger seat. Murphy was a convicted felon and arrested for possession of the gun and ammunition. He was booked into County Jail.
• 3/17/17 at 3:48 pm, officers responded to the report of a subject passed out in City Park. Upon officers’ arrival, 39 year old Andrew Guillory was contacted in the grass near the playground. He was found to be heavily intoxicated and uncooperative when they woke him. Guillory was arrested for public intoxication and booked into County Jail.
• 3/17/17 at 1:58 pm, a citizen called to report a subject at Jack’s Car Wash on Fitzuren Rd. with a firearm in his waistband. Officers responded and contacted 36 year old Keith Stevenson who was found to have a loaded handgun in his pocket. The gun had been reported stolen that same day in a residential burglary in Oakley. Stevenson was also a convicted felon. He was arrested and booked in the County Jail for possession of the stolen handgun.
• 3/16/17 at 3:48 pm, an officer was on patrol when he saw 47 year old Michael Stevens driving near Garrow Dr. The officer knew that Stevens had a Parolee at Large warrant. The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on Stevens’ vehicle and he was taken into custody. Stevens was booked into County Jail.

Will Stallings, Jr. in his football uniform.

By Ed Givans

All Sports Training Center, located in Antioch, California has an amazing 6th grade athlete, Will Stallings, Jr. He plays football for the Pittsburg Junior Pirates’ Junior Varsity team. He also runs track for the elite track team All Sports Outlaws. Since training at All Sports Training Center, his speed, agility, vertical jump and all around athletic abilities are equal to those of a high school athlete.

All of Stallings’ hard work and dedication has landed him on the 6th grade Football University (FBU) team, which he helped lead to the championship in Naples, Florida. It was the first time a Bay Area FBU team made it to the FBU championship.

With his outstanding play in Naples, he was scouted and invited to the Diamond All-American game in Los Angeles, California where he was the starting slot receiver and cornerback. With an all-star performance in Los Angeles, he was scouted for the Grid Iron Kings National Youth Showcase All-Star Game presented by DMAXX Sports in Dallas, Texas.

His Trainer, who is also the owner of All Sports Training Center, says that Will is one of the hardest working 6th graders that he has ever come across. Expect big things to come from Stallings, Jr.

He’s not just a superstar athlete, he is also a superstar student maintaining a 3.2 GPA. Stallings lives by the quote, “hard work beats talent when talent is hardly working” and says that he receives his motivation from his loving and supportive family.

He currently has an upcoming invite from New York City depending on his performance in Dallas. In a short off-season, this 6th grade superstar athlete has competed and shined in all national games across the country.

Congratulations to Will Stallings, Jr. and All Sports Training Center of Antioch for putting out such a humble athlete.

Chief Allan Cantando is presented with a clock by Argentina Luevano, former Councilwoman & Mayor Mary Rocha, and Angel Luevano, for his service to the Latino community of Antioch. Photo courtesy of Argentina Luevano

By John Crowder

Over 200 people, including community members, current and former political dignitaries, and police officers from around the Bay Area attended the retirement ceremony of Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando, on Thursday, March 30th.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Antioch’s Lone Tree Golf and Event Center, Cantando, surrounded by family members, and with his father listening in though Skype, heard how much he had meant to the Antioch community.

Captain Tammany Brooks, now serving as Acting Chief after the man he described as his best friend leaves that post, was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Brooks welcomed the crowd, then introduced the Antioch Police Color Guard, who presented the American and California flags for the pledge of allegiance.  Brooks then called on Reverend Robert Rien, of Antioch’s St. Ignatius Church, to give the invocation.

Rien, in an emotional talk that served as a prelude to many other acknowledgements of the impact that Cantando had during his almost 30 years of service to the City of Antioch, described how he had come to know Cantando over the last several years, and how close they had become.

Following Rien’s remarks, Retired Chief Mark Moczulski introduced Chief Cantando, who in turn introduced his family to those gathered for the event.

Representatives from California and State legislators, along with members of the community, then took turns honoring Cantando, and presenting him with letters of appreciation and gifts, thanking him for his service to the community. They included former Chief of Police Mark Moczulski, former City Manager Steve Duran, former Mayor Wade Harper, former Mayor and Councilwoman Mary Rocha, as well as former Police Crime Prevention Commission Chair Hans Ho, among others.

Chief Cantando, who will now begin a second career with Bank of America as Vice President and Regional Manager of Protective Services for the organization, closed the event with a final message.  In it, he thanked his family, friends, and his fellow police officers, emphasizing the dangers they face in their daily efforts to keep the public safe.

Cantando was the Chief of Police in Antioch for five-and-a-half years.