Acting Antioch city manager appoints acting captain as City’s new acting police chief
Will launch search for interim chief
A high-ranking officer on Antioch’s police force will assume temporary leadership of the department following the retirement of the City’s Police Chief this week it was announced, today, Monday, August 7, 2023.
Acting Captain Joseph Vigil has been named Acting Chief effective Aug. 12, said Acting City Manager Kwame Reed on Monday.
Chief of Police Steven Ford announced last month that he will be retiring. His last day is Friday.
Vigil (pronounced “vehill”) was one of four internal candidates Reed interviewed for the top job.
“He’s done a lot in his career,” said Reed, noting that Vigil earned a master’s degree in emergency service administration from California State University, Long Beach.
In December, Vigil also began attending the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training’s Command College, a 14-month, master’s level program that equips police who are leaders in their departments with the skills and strategies needed to recognize emerging social, political, and other issues that could affect law enforcement.
Vigil began his 23-year career in law enforcement with the Sacramento Police Department and then served as a Sergeant with the Richmond Police Department for nearly 11 years.
He joined Antioch’s police force in 2020, and as an Acting Captain he oversees patrol teams, investigations, the training of newly hired officers, and monitors the department’s use of body cameras among other duties.
Reed now will launch the search for an Interim Police Chief and once he has made that hire, Vigil will return to his previous position.
After that, there will be a recruitment for a permanent Police Chief. Although he can’t predict how long the search will take, Reed said he looks forward to working with both the City Council and the Antioch community to identify the qualities that are most important for that person to have.
He added that he will be working with Chief Ford and Acting Chief Vigil this week to create a smooth transition between administrations.
Vigil said he had no comment at this time.
the attachments to this post:
Joe Vigil
Chief Ford & Lt. Joe Vigil
