Antioch Council to consider ban on police restraints, requiring city employees to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing
By Allen Payton
Photo: FDA
In spite of the recent County Coroner’s Inquest Jury finding that the death of Angelo Quinto in December was not the result of a knee-to-neck restraint by Antioch Police Officers, the Antioch City Council will discuss adopting a resolution on banning the use of police officer restraints, Tuesday night. (See related article)
According to the staff report, “It is recommended that the City Council adopt the resolution directing the City Manager and the City Attorney to work with the Chair of the Police Oversight Standing Committee (of the entire city council) and the Antioch Police Department to develop a policy that protects members of the public involved in law enforcement incidents by identifying and prohibiting the use of Police Officer restraints, holds, tactics and maneuvers that pose a substantial risk of positional asphyxiation, potentially resulting in unconsciousness or death.” The item is #6 on the agenda.
In addition, at the request of Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who held a press conference about the matter, last week, the council will consider requiring all city employees get vaccinated for COVID or be required to be tested each week.
The council begins at 7:00 p.m. following closed session discussions beginning at 4:00 p.m, including a legal matter with the Quinto family and an employee performance evaluation of City Manager Ron Bernal.
Members of the public seeking to observe the meeting may do so at https://www.antiochca.gov/live_stream, on Comcast Channel 24, or AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.
Public Comments
Members of the public wishing to provide public comment may do so one of the following ways (#2 pertains to the Zoom Webinar):
- Fill out an online speaker card by 3:00 p.m. the day of the Council Meeting located at:
- Provide oral public comments during the meeting by clicking the following link to register in advance to access the meeting via Zoom Webinar: https://www.antiochca.gov/speakers
– You will be asked to enter an email address and a name. Your email address will not be disclosed to the public. After registering, you will receive an email with instructions on how to connect to the meeting.
– When the Mayor announces public comments, click the “raise hand” feature in Zoom. For instructions on using the “raise hand” feature in Zoom, visit:
https://www.antiochca.gov/raise_hand. When calling into the meeting using the Zoom Webinar telephone number, press *9 on your telephone keypad to “raise your hand”. Please ensure your Zoom client is updated so staff can enable your microphone when it is your turn to speak.
- Email comments to cityclerk@ci.antioch.ca.us by 3:00 p.m. the day of the Council Meeting. The comment will be read into the record at the meeting (350 words maximum, up to 3 minutes, at the discretion of the Mayor). IMPORTANT: Identify the agenda item in the subject line of your email if the comment is for Announcement of Community Events, Public Comment, or a specific Agenda Item number. No one may speak more than once on an agenda item or during “Public Comments”.
All emails received by 3:00 p.m. the day of the Council Meeting will be entered into the record
for the meeting.
Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak.
