Antioch council to consider more police reforms, spending $60,000 more for homelessness consultant Tuesday night
Training matrix additions to include “implicit bias training”, how to deal with “historically marginalized persons”
By Allen Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, the Antioch City Council will consider three more police reform proposals, including disqualifying factors for lateral hires, adding specific topics into the training matrix of sworn officers and the previously discussed protocol for notifying council members. In addition, the council will consider three issues intended to deal with the city’s homeless population, including spending $60,000 more on a contract with Focus Strategies. (See meeting agenda)
Items 8, 9 and 10 are on the police reform matters and items J on the Consent Calendar, and 11 and 12 are on the unhoused resident matters. APD Disqualifying Factors for Lateral Hires APD Officer Training Matrix topics APD Notification Protocol Unhoused Resident Consultant Contract Extension
The proposed additions the police training matrix are as follows:
UPDATE: At about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who is the main proponent of the reform measures, was asked the following questions via email: regarding the proposed reforms on adding language to the training matrix, have APD officers been getting complaints in their interactions with “historically marginalized persons”? Also, why the addition of implicit bias training, which according to reports isn’t working in other departments? Doesn’t it imply that Antioch police officers are racially biased and act on it when interacting with people of color? Is there any data from the APD that demonstrates the need for this additional language in the training matrix? Again, I remind you that you signed a pledge last year to base your reform proposals on findings. So, what are the findings?
Similar questions were emailed to Antioch Police Officers Association President Jason Vanderpool at about the same time.
As of 9:20 p.m. Monday night, neither had responded. Please check back later for their responses and any other updates to this report.
Prior to their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m., the council will hold a budget study session beginning at 5:30 p.m.
If you wish to provide a written public comment, you may do so any of the following ways by 3:30 p.m. the day of the Council Meeting: (1) Fill out an online speaker card, located at www.antiochca.gov/speaker_card, or (2) Email the City Clerk’s Department at cityclerk@ci.antioch.ca.us.
To provide oral public comments during the meeting, click the following link to register in advance to access the meeting via Zoom Webinar: www.antiochca.gov/speakers. You may also provide an oral public comment by dialing (925) 776-3057. Please see inside cover for detailed Speaker Rules.
To ensure that the City Council receives your comments, you must submit your comments in writing by 3:30 p.m. the day of the City Council Meeting.
Members of the public seeking to observe the meeting may do so at www.antiochca.gov/live_stream, on Comcast Channel 24, or AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.
the attachments to this post:
police-reform-word-cloud
APD Disqualifying Factors for Lateral Hires
Unhoused Resident Consultant Contract Extension
APD Officer Training Matrix topics
APD Notification Protocol
APD Training Matrix proposals ACC042721
