SACRAMENTO –  The California Department of Justice has announced that personal information was disclosed in connection with the June 27, 2022 update of its Firearms Dashboard Portal. Based on the Department’s current investigation, the incident exposed the personal information of individuals who were granted or denied a concealed and carry weapons (CCW) permit between 2011-2021. Information exposed included names, date of birth, gender, race, driver’s license number, addresses, and criminal history. Social Security numbers or any financial information were not disclosed as a result of this event. Additionally, data from the following dashboards were also impacted: Assault Weapon Registry, Handguns Certified for Sale, Dealer Record of Sale, Firearm Safety Certificate, and Gun Violence Restraining Order dashboards. DOJ is investigating the extent to which any personally identifiable information could have been exposed from those dashboards and will report additional information as soon as confirmed.

“This unauthorized release of personal information is unacceptable and falls far short of my expectations for this department,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I immediately launched an investigation into how this occurred at the California Department of Justice and will take strong corrective measures where necessary. The California Department of Justice is entrusted to protect Californians and their data. We acknowledge the stress this may cause those individuals whose information was exposed. I am deeply disturbed and angered.”

On the afternoon of June 27, 2022, DOJ posted updates to the Firearms Dashboard Portal. DOJ was made aware of a disclosure of personal information that was accessible in a spreadsheet on the portal. After DOJ learned of the data exposure, the department took steps to remove the information from public view and shut down the Firearms Dashboard yesterday morning. The dashboard and data were available for less than 24 hours.

In the coming days, the Department will notify those individuals whose data was exposed and provide additional information and resources. California law requires a business or state agency to notify any California resident whose unencrypted personal information, as defined, was acquired, or reasonably believed to have been acquired, by an unauthorized person.

DOJ asks that anyone who accessed such information respect the privacy of the individuals involved and not share or disseminate any of the personal information.  In addition, possession of or use of personal identifying information for an unlawful purpose may be a crime. (See Cal Penal Code Sec. 530.5.)

We are communicating with law enforcement partners throughout the state. In collaboration, we will provide support to those whose information has been exposed.

In an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice will provide credit monitoring services for individuals whose data was exposed as a result of this incident. DOJ will directly contact individuals who have been impacted by this incident and will provide instructions to sign up for this service.

Any Californian may take the following steps to immediately protect their information related to credit:

Monitor your credit.  One of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft is to monitor your credit history.  To obtain free copies of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com.
Consider placing a free credit freeze on your credit report. Identity thieves will not be able to open a new credit account in your name while the freeze is in place. You can place a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus:

Equifax: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/; 888-766-0008
Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html; 888-397-3742
TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze; 800-680-7289

Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert helps protect you against the possibility of someone opening new credit accounts in your name. A fraud alert lasts 90 days and can be renewed. To post a fraud alert on your credit file, you must contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies listed above. Keep in mind that if place a fraud alert with any one of the three major credit reporting agencies, the alert will be automatically added by the other two agencies as well.

Additional Resources. If you are a victim of identity theft, contact your local police department or sheriff’s office right away. You may also report identity theft and generate a recovery plan using the Federal Trade Commission’s website at identitytheft.gov. For more information and resources visit the Attorney General’s website at oag.ca.gov/idtheft.

Other driver, parents dispute police report, claim police car hit his, have a witness; APD investigation into accident ongoing

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, on Monday, July 4 at approximately 9:32 pm, Antioch Police Officer Lundin was responding Code 3 (lights and sirens) to an emergency of a house that caught fire due to fireworks.

“When she approached the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Wildflower Drive,” he explained. “As she slowly crept into the intersection, making sure it was clear for her to safely proceed, a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed T-boned her patrol vehicle on the passenger side.”

The father of the driver arrived on the scene to find out where his son’s car was towed. He said his son’s car was sideswiped by the police vehicle while chasing another car just his son who is 21 “is banged up a bit but he’s OK.”

7/5/22 12:30 PM UPDATE: However, Saffold in an updated report said, “witnesses stated Officer Lundin was slowly and methodically clearing the intersection when the other driver who was traveling at a high rate of speed was not able to stop or avoid the collision.”

Saffold also shared that the investigation of the incident is ongoing and that we haven’t determined fault, yet. He said he misspoke that the other driver was at fault, in an earlier version of this report.

The 21-year-old driver of the other car and his parents are disputing what APD is reporting about the incident and claim the police officer’s vehicle struck his car. In addition, his mother spoke to a witness who saw the entire incident and offered a different report. The father said he is trying to find which tow yard has his son’s car and will provide photos of it once he finds it. The driver of the other car was also transported to a local hospital, but an X-ray showed no fractures to his leg, which was hurt in the collision and caused him to limp after exiting his vehicle with help from a firefighter. (See more details in a separate article, later)

Asked if there was dash cam footage from the police car, Saffold responded, “we don’t have dash cams.” Asked if there are traffic cameras on the stoplights, he responded, “the investigation is ongoing as to any surveillance in the area.”

Hillcrest was closed in the southbound direction between Wildflower Drive and the back entrance to the Safeway shopping center and traffic was diverted through the back alley behind the stores.

According to an officer on the scene no officers were injured. However, “Officer Lundin was transported to a local area hospital with minor injuries and is in good spirits,” Saffold shared. “No alcohol or drugs were involved.”

Following is the text of the Declaration of Independence in celebration of Independence Day, July 4th, 2022:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1

Georgia:

Button Gwinnett

Lyman Hall

George Walton

Column 2

North Carolina:

William Hooper

Joseph Hewes

John Penn

South Carolina:

Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Lynch, Jr.

Arthur Middleton

Column 3

Massachusetts:

John Hancock

Maryland:

Samuel Chase

William Paca

Thomas Stone

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:

George Wythe

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Harrison

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Carter Braxton

Column 4

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Franklin

John Morton

George Clymer

James Smith

George Taylor

James Wilson

George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney

George Read

Thomas McKean

Column 5

New York:

William Floyd

Philip Livingston

Francis Lewis

Lewis Morris

New Jersey:

Richard Stockton

John Witherspoon

Francis Hopkinson

John Hart

Abraham Clark

Column 6

New Hampshire:

Josiah Bartlett

William Whipple

Massachusetts:

Samuel Adams

John Adams

Robert Treat Paine

Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:

Stephen Hopkins

William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman

Samuel Huntington

William Williams

Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire:

Matthew Thornton

From the website: www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html

Happy Independence Day from the Antioch Herald!

By Patriots Jet Team

Venice Island, are you ready for an airshow this weekend!! We are super excited to perform prior to the Mandeville fireworks show! Thanks to the Venice Island Owners, Inc. we’ll be performing a six-jet aerobatic show July 3rd at 6:30pm. Make sure your radio is tuned in to 95.5FM for the show. #airshow #mandevillefireworks #californiadelta

For more information about the Byron Airport-based Patriots Jet Team visit patriotsjetteam.com.

Violent crime up 26% from 2020 to 2021, Priority 1 call response times increasing

By Allen D. Payton

Now that the effort to recall Mayor Lamar Thorpe has ended, he finally placed on the agenda the annual crime report during the Antioch City Council meeting on June 14, 2022. Interim Police Chief Steve Ford’s presentation that night shows murder in the city is up 400% with five this year versus one last year between Jan. 1 and May 31, and rapes increased by 380% to 24 this year versus five, last year during the same time period. However, the report shows overall major crimes decreased 8.13% in Antioch during the first five months of the year, with a total of 1,084 this year compared to 1,180 last year. In addition, while the report shows a 9.2% decrease in overall Part I crimes from 2020 to 2021, violent crimes increased 26%.

Major crimes that are reported to the FBI also include aggravated assault which was down 13.5%, with 193 this year compared to 223, last year; robbery, up 58% with 54 reported this year versus 34 last year; burglary down 30% with 109 vs. 139 this year over last; theft down 19% with 444 this year compared to 548 last year; auto theft up 13.1% with 242 cars stolen this year versus 214 last year; and arson down 13.3% with 13 this year versus 16 last year.

Violent Crime Increased During 2021 Over 2020

Regarding violent crimes, which include homicide, aggravated assault, rape and robbery, the report states, “Homicides have remained relatively consistent over the years, but aggravated assaults have increasingly dominated our violent crime numbers,” with 343 aggravated assaults out of 648 total violent crimes in 2019, 400 out of 592 in 2020 and 507 out of 693 in 2021.

Comparing statistics for 2021 to 2020 violent crimes increased 7% in Antioch from 648 to 693 with homicides up 20% with 12 versus 10, year over year, rapes decreased 2.5% from 40 to 39, robbery down 4.9% from 142 to 135, and increase in aggravated assaults by 27% with 507 in 2021 versus 400 in 2020.

There have been a few changes in the statistics from what is on the APD’s website to what was provided in Ford’s presentation.

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, “The most current data is on our new crime statistics website (https://www.antiochca.gov/police/crime-statistics/), as well as an explanation of the change from UCR to NIBRS and how that impacts our numbers. Additionally, I should note that none of the numbers are final until all of the reports for that time period have been audited and submitted to DOJ.”

“December 2021 data was just recently completed, 2022 crime data is all fluid and subject to change,” he continued. “We plan to update the website and adjust it monthly, in an effort to provide more ongoing transparency.”

“Regarding the 2020 data, we had to amend a couple reports after submission to the DOJ (i.e. one of our homicides was initially reported to UCR as justified, but it was not per UCR criterion; two aggravated assaults were reclassified as simple assaults),” Saffold explained further. “For 2020, the correct total for homicides was indeed 10 and the correct total for aggravated assaults was 400. The old website chart…for 2020 was created before these DOJ adjustments I have attached the new one and will update the one on the website.”

Average Response Times

The report also shows average response times reducing over the past nine years, but “2022 response times are slowly increasing, in part due to staffing shortage”. Priority 1 calls experienced an increase in average response times from 7 minutes 36 seconds in 2020, to 9 minutes 1 second so far in 2022.

Use of Force Stats

The report provides use of force statistics for 2021 and 2022. “In 2021, out of 89,016 calls for service, force was used to effect arrest in 111 incidents or in 0.125% of calls,” the report shows. Through May 2022, out of 649 arrests use of force was required four times or in just 0.616% of calls.

According to the report, actions compelling Uses of Force include “Active Aggression, Assault on Officer, Resisting Arrest, Non-Compliance and Armed Subject”. Types of use of force in 2021 included: OC Spray, Carotid, Flashlight, 40 mm ECW/Taser, K-9 Utilized, and Physical/Other.

Citizen Complaints

The report also includes statistics on Citizen Complaints against Antioch Police Officers from 2019 through May 2022. Because each complaint may have multiple allegations or

multiple employees involved and each employee may have multiple allegations, the number of allegations counted per incident and by employee is higher

than the total number of complaints and employees involved.

2019 – 26 Total Complaints with 35 allegations, 39 involved employees (or APD) with 89 allegations.

2020 – 24 Total Complaints with 39 allegations, 48 involved employees (or APD) with 117 allegations

2021 – 23 Total Complaints with 37 allegations, 39* involved employees (or APD) with 83 allegations

2022 – 2 Complaints for 2022 are being processed and pending*.

*The number of involved employees involved in complaints in 2021/2022 may change as pending investigations develop.

Community Engagement

Finally, the report shows the “Antioch Police Department supports proactive engagement with our community members through neighborhood meetings, annual events, youth outreach, demonstrations, forums, and social media.”

“In 2021, APD Officers participated in 683 Community Policing Activities” and “235…so far in 2022”. Those activities included Holiday Adopt a Family, Holiday Food Drive, Holiday Toy Giveaway, Halloween Trick-or-Treat, Birthday Parades, Citizen’s Academy, Youth Academy, Coffee with the Cops, Tip-A-Cop, Torch Run, Community Fundraisers and Bridging the Gap forums.

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

On June 17th, 2022, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton and U.S. Department of Labor Assistant District Director for San Jose Alberto Raymond formalize a partnership to combat wage theft and protect workers’ rights.

Both agencies commemorate the agreement by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the District Attorney’s Office in Martinez. The MOU means the DA’s Office will be devoting resources to prosecute criminal wage theft cases to curtail labor trafficking, unfair business practices, payroll tax evasion, and wage and hour violations. To do this, District Attorney Becton will create a Workplace Justice Unit that’s committed to a fair and equitable workplace.

Becton noted, “While the DA’s Office and the Department of Labor have had an informal relationship on human labor trafficking and wage theft cases since 2014, this Memorandum of Understanding marks the start of a formal five-year partnership to continue our efforts to seek justice for victims of crime.”

Wage theft affects victims in various ways – and at all income levels. Some workers are denied overtime or are paid less than the minimum wage per hour. Some employers also refuse to pay bonuses, vacation pay, or reimbursement of business expenses. According to investigations by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division in 2021, U.S. workers were denied over 230-million dollars in back pay.1

“Cooperation between federal and local agencies is critical in the fight against all forms of wage theft here in Contra Costa County and elsewhere in the country,” Assistant District Director Raymond said. “The formal renewal of this longstanding partnership highlights our determination and commitment to combat wage theft and to hold their perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Wage theft is a felony punishable by up to three years in jail. Employers caught stealing from their employees may be personally liable for unpaid wages and face criminal asset forfeiture actions.2

In addition to investigating and prosecuting cases, both agencies will conduct community outreach programs to inform the public about reporting wage theft — as well as provide resources for employers to help them follow labor and payroll tax laws.

If you are a victim of wage theft, call 1-866-4-USWAGE or contact the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office at: DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org.

1 U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Labor Division (FY 2021) data found a total of $234,280,603.96 in back pay was owed to workers.

2 Pursuant to PC section 186.11

 

About East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District – The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) is a rural-funded fire district that currently operates 3 fire stations and has a 3-station deficit. The District protects a population of more than 128,000 across its 249 square-mile service area. ECCFPD provides firefighting personnel, emergency medical services (basic life support) and fire prevention to the residents and businesses of the cities of Brentwood and Oakley, and unincorporated communities of Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek, and Morgan Territory.

About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) — A recognized fire service leader – Con Fire provides fire and emergency medical services to some 625,000 residents in nine cities and five unincorporated areas across our 304 square-mile jurisdiction. With few exceptions, county emergency ambulance transport services are provided by Con Fire through our unique sub-contractor Alliance model across the District and beyond to include some 520 square miles of the County. In 2021, the District responded to more than 141,000 incidents of all types, including some 55,000 fire and EMS emergencies, and dispatched nearly 100,000 ambulances, providing expert medical care on more than 75,000 ambulance transports. The District, with 26 fire stations and more than 400 employees, is dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Safford, there were three shooting incidents in the city on Friday and Saturday. No one was injured.

There was a shooting on Friday, June 24 8:37pm. The victim was at home with her young children when she heard shots from the area of 7-11 on the corner of Buchanan Road and Gentrytown Drive. An upstairs window to their home was later discovered to be broken and officers located a bullet inside a closet to the home. The investigation is ongoing.

On Saturday, June 25 at 2:49am, Officers were dispatched to the area of Greystone Court for multiple calls of shots fired after a loud argument was heard. When officers arrived, they located several spent casings in the area. There were no victims, and the investigation is ongoing

Then again on Saturday, June 25, at 4:36pm Officers responded to shots fired in the area of Spanos Way for numerous reports of shots fired. Officers arrived on scene and located numerous spent casings. There were no witnesses, video or reported injuries and the investigation is ongoing.