Mayor Thorpe to host service in lieu of his annual State of the City address.
By Lamar Thorpe, Mayor of Antioch
Earlier this year Antioch was rocked by revelations of racism, federal indictments, and state investigations. Many members of the community were both shocked and hurt by the news. The revelations also brought about threats of violence. As a result, Mayor Thorpe postponed the annual State of the City address.
In lieu of the State of the City, Mayor Lamar Thorpe cordially invites residents to a Unity and Healing Service in collaboration with Rev. Kwang-il Kim of the Antioch United Methodist Church, Rabbi Peretz Goldshmid of Chabad of the Delta, and Intisar Malhi of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
As part of the event, Mayor Thorpe will be honoring several community members who represent the spirit of unity and healing with the Key to the City, Antioch’s highest honor. Award recipients will be announced a week before the event.
Louise passed on September 4, 2023; weeks shy of her 98th birthday. Louise was born in Arvada, Colorado, the first of four children. She and her husband Lauron met in the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Colorado. After years in Washington, Oregon and Southern California they moved to Antioch, with Lauron working for Crown Zellerbach and Louise raising their three daughters, Leslie, Linda, and Lori.
Louise became a substitute teacher and in 1964 she was appointed to the Planning Commission, where she remained until she won a seat on the City Council in 1968. She became the first woman mayor of Antioch in 1970-1971, and again in 1975-1976, a groundbreaking role model for future generations of young women. In addition to the City Council, Louise served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). She was also appointed to the Seismic Safety Commission and was an independent contractor for environmental protection at Caltrans.
In 1966 Louise obtained her pilot’s license and in 1969 she and Lauron flew the family in a six-seater Cherokee on a tour of the United States. After retirement they loved to travel and were proud of the fact, they had visited all seven continents. Later Louise and Lauron relocated to Sonora, California, where they resided for over 20 years. They loved exploring the Eastern Sierras and she was involved in the local arts community and became a prolific oil painter, often painting scenes of the Sierra foothills.
Louise was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Lauron, her sister Bobbie & brother-in-law Tom Warfield. Louise leaves behind daughters Leslie Lum, Ollie Linda Anderson & Lori Brown, her sister Billie Homberg & nephew David (Donna) O’Bryan and niece Donna Ruth (Todd) Schutz, brother Tony (Joie) Price, nephew Bill (Linda) Warfield, and niece Debra (Blue) Bergmann. She will be greatly missed.
Former Antioch Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Frank L. Stone, his dog Rambo and the plaque in his honor at the Antioch Animal Services building. Source: Antioch Animal Services
By Antioch Animal Services
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Frank L. Stone at 96 years of age on Wednesday, October 25th in Palm Springs, FL. Frank was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Animal Shelter here at 300 L Street, which was dedicated to him in 1994.
Frank, a Tennessee native, lived in Antioch during his career and retirement from PG&E. Frank was an active member of the community and a huge animal lover from his dog Rambo (pictured) to his last dog, Rita, Frank was never without a canine companion. He was a part of the Antioch City Council and Mayor Pro Tem for two terms. He was also a founding member of the Association of Responsible Citizens formed in 1978 and a founding member and first Treasurer for Friends of Animal Services formed in 1979.
In 1994 during the dedication of the new Animal Shelter, former president of Friends of Antioch Animal Services, Barbara Sobalvarro, fondly recounts what her “friend” Frank said, “A City that does not care about its children, older people or animals, is a City without a soul.”
We are so thankful for Frank’s service to his Country as a naval officer, to his City as a Councilman and to the people and the animals of Antioch as a voice for the voiceless. He was a true friend to all.
Photo of sideshow at Lone Tree Way and Deer Valley Road Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2023. Photos by Allen D. Payton
Torres-Walker, Wilson concerned about punishing bystanders, more concerned with single car “spinouts”
“…when we can’t even trust them, not all but some, to do their current job without bias, I just don’t know if this is the particular right direction to go in.” – Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker.
By Allen D. Payton
After hearing from a few speakers during public comments the Antioch City Council discussed developing an ordinance to ban bystanders at sideshows, during their meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The mayor and two council members support moving forward, while two were concerned with criminalizing spectators. (See 3:03:40 mark of council meeting video)
Speaking to one resident who suggested prevention over punishment Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker said, “This has been an amazing night. People in this city continue to surprise me. I totally agree with a lot of your comments. There are already traffic laws that need to be enforced that aren’t being enforced and we all know why but we won’t go there.”
“Spinouts are not large-scale sideshows with 100 or 200 spectators,” she continued. “That is the daily experience in this city for the majority of residents, not large-scale sideshows. What are we going to do about that?”
The District 1 councilwoman then shared concerns about banning spectators and the police response.
“Even passing a policy that will criminalize the simple spectator, give the authority to someone in law enforcement to decide who’s a spectator and who’s not spectator when we can’t even trust them, not all but some, to do their current job without bias, I just don’t know if this is the particular right direction to go in,” said Torres-Walker.
District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica then said in response to a public comment, “First off, Bots Dots do not work. If you want proof of that…go to Blue Rock and Lone Tree. They do not work. Also go to James Donlon and Somersville. All the Bots Dots are literally covered in rubber. In District 2 we have, it seems almost a weekly event, now. Two weeks ago, they actually destroyed city signage, there. There was so much debris in the roadway that cars couldn’t drive through there. It took two city workers almost two hours to clean it up.”
“Most of this is occurring from people coming to the city from outside the city creating the issues then leaving our city,” he continued.
In response to a few residents who suggested providing a safe space for sideshows Barbanica stated, “I’m not really interested in saying as Antioch taxpayers why don’t we go ahead and develop a site for out-of-town people. It’s ludicrous.”
A large-scale sideshow causes a traffic backup in both directions on Lone Tree Way early Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2023.
In response to Torres-Walker’s concerns he said, “Police officers are paid all day long to make determinations all day long. We’re issuing an infraction citation, here. We have been doing a lot of work trying to identify where these events occur. We’ve tried to prevent them. We’ve tried to cite people. A local business tried to do one and it ended in a shooting.
“I’m all for this ordinance,” he concluded.
“I too am for this ordinance,” District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock said. “I’m not sure about the spectator side. I’ve had several residents call and they were afraid for their lives as they were stuck in them.”
She then mentioned a sideshow that she witnessed.
“I think it is a safety issue and I’d like to see this going forward,” Ogorchock concluded.
Police arrive at the scene of the sideshow on Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2023.
District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson said, “How do we tell who is a bystander and who isn’t? I see more burnouts. We need to work on this more. But I would like to see some type of ordinance. It’s like a cat and mouse. The bystander ordinance gives me great pause.”
“Thank you, Councilwoman Ogorchock for describing a spectator, because at that point, you were,” Torres-Walker said. “When we say, ‘all these people are not from Antioch’ is just not true. If you’re in your city, you probably organized it…people who navigate the city. When these events break up how do they know which way to go…to get to the freeway.
“This isn’t a race issue, because most likely when you go to one of these events most of the people probably look like Councilman Barbanica and Councilwoman Ogorchock,” Torres-Walker continued.
She spoke about prevention and again asked what to do about spinouts saying, “I see my neighbors do it before they pull in their driveway.”
Police arrest a driver of one car and confiscate a gun from inside following the sideshow on Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2023.
Mayor Lamar Thorpe then weighed in saying, “We can certainly bring back the burnouts at a later time. I specifically asked if we can do roundabouts…and it didn’t go anywhere and what we got was a recommendation from staff for dots…and we went along with it.”
“I’m for this,” he continued. “I am for prevention. We’ve done a great job on prevention. But our traffic division has been decimated due to the racist text scandal. Second, there have been places that have hosted sideshows that have been fairly successful. But we did have the one…that ended on Cavallo. They’re still doing some and it seems to be controlled, so it’s working. I wish the fairgrounds would get involved with the racetrack but that’s not our jurisdiction.”
“I’m for this and I don’t have a problem with spectators,” Thorpe shared. “The police are doing a good job using cameras. I hear those concerns, but I think we should use all aspects.”
“It appears we have consensus,” Barbanica stated.
“There are a lot of things you can do to determine who is a spectator,” said City Attorney Thomas L. Smith. “But you guys can determine what is the right way to handle the bystander situation.”
Antioch Councilman Mike Barbanica, State Senator Steve Glazer and Assemblyman Tim Grayson are working to get help from the CHP for the Antioch’s depleted police force.
Send joint letter to Governor seeking aid in addressing public safety crisis amid ongoing police scandal
Follows on Councilman Barbanica’s requests of county police chiefs, CHP, Sheriff’s for assistance
ByAllen D. Payton
In early August, Antioch District 2 City Councilman Mike Barbanica asked the City of Antioch to look into getting more help from both the CHP and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office after sideshows got out of hand.
Earlier this month, Barbanica, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, Acting Police Chief Joe Vigil and two other police chiefs from the county held a meeting but “Vigil said, ‘we don’t need anything’,” the councilman stated.
“Grayson’s office offered help. The chiefs told Vigil you don’t have enough staffing,” Barbanica continued. “I spoke to the city manager. We have a commitment from the county police chiefs that they are ready to assist and provide personnel. The city manager is putting together a plan, and the police department will get assistance for traffic enforcement.”
“I personally met with the Chiefs of El Cerrito and San Pablo, who are the president and VP of the county chiefs association and they are working with Acting Chief Vigil who has assigned Sgt. Rob Green to work with surrounding agencies and traffic enforcement. I had two meetings with Assemblyman Grayson that were very productive. He has assured any help we need out of Sacramento, cutting red tape, he’ll be happy to help with.”
Following up on Barbanica’s request, according to a press release from State Senator Steve Glazer’s office, he and Assemblymember Tim Grayson sent a joint letter to Governor Gavin Newsom today, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, seeking assistance for the city of Antioch’s police force, decimated by years of FBI and local investigations.
The investigations into Antioch’s police ranks have eroded local officers’ ability to maintain public safety in the city, according to Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe in an interview on Senator Glazer’s Podcast, Table Talk.
Senator Glazer also spoke with California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee about the public safety crisis and the request.
“The City of Antioch is struggling with public safety right now, and the CHP can help,” Senator Glazer said.
According to the press release by Vivian Bossieux-Skinner, Glazer’s Press Secretary, Mayor Thorpe, a guest on Senator Glazer’s latest episode on his podcast, Table Talk, said, “we have about four or five officers at any given moment patrolling our streets,” in a city of 120,000 people.
Mayor Thorpe said the low numbers of police officers on duty at any given time means police response times can be excessively long depending on the crime being reported. Thorpe said more than half of the 87 city-authorized officers are on leave because of the investigations into the force, leaving just over 40 officers to patrol the city.
“We can use the help because it would drastically reduce time in which an officer can respond to a crime,” said Mayor Thorpe on Table Talk.
These safety concerns were echoed by Mayor Thorpe on Senator Glazer’s Table Talk; the two areas that were decimated as a result of the racist text messaging scandal were traffic and investigations. “And so, it has had real impacts on the community in terms of keeping them safe,” Thorpe said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has already assigned CHP officers this year to cities that request the help; the City of San Francisco has had CHP assistance in dealing with the Fentanyl crisis since May and Oakland has had CHP help since August in dealing with road-related incidents to give City police officers more time to focus on solving violent crime.
Rendering of E. 18th St West Warehouse Project with the proposed name of Antioch Gateway. Source: DECA Company.
Will also allow for light manufacturing
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, following public comments mostly by local union workers in support of the warehouse projects on E. 18th Street, the Antioch Council had a few questions and comments. The project is owned by the San Francisco-based DECA Companies.
“I didn’t want large truck traffic going westbound into the city,” District 3 Councilman Mike Barbanica said. (See related article)
“The conditions of approval require signage to direct trucks to go east to 160,” said the project developer’s representative.
“Are these regulatory signs or suggestion signs?” Barbanica asked.
Where the signs go, what the verbiage will be and the regulatory aspect will be determined in discussions with city staff, the project representative shared.
District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson’s only concern was regarding the landscaping, that it be drought tolerant.
“Everything post-colonialism is evasive in this country. A little-known fact, Goldilocks broke into a house, ate all they food, destroyed they property and refused to leave. Just wanted to point that out. I think it is important, as we look to the future to work locally. It’s important to a person’s quality of life,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker said.
In response to comments by members of the public about being able to work locally instead of traveling to job sites on Highway 4 she said, “It’s probably one of the worst freeways in the East Bay according to my experience. Capitalism demands that people be poor so that other people could be rich. We can make sure that industry comes to the city to make those jobs a reality.”
District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock said, “I like these sites because of the local hire.”
Referring to the union workers who spoke in favor of the project, tonight she said, “it gives them back their quality of life by being at home.”
“Did we resolve the native plant thing?” Mayor Lamar Thorpe asked.
“We made a commitment we would improve our native plant species,” the developer’s spokesman said.
All five motions on the E. 18th Street East Warehouse Project passed on 5-0 votes.
The council also approved all five motions for the West Warehouse Project on 5-0 votes.
Hundreds of spectators watch a sideshow in the intersection of Lone Tree Way and Deer Valley Road before police arrived on Saturday night, Sept. 23, 2023. Photo by Allen D. Payton
Plus, two large warehouse projects on E. 18th Street, more street sweeping
By Allen D. Payton
During their regular meeting tonight, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Antioch City Council will consider developing an ordinance that will make it illegal to be a spectator of a sideshow or street race. They will also vote on two new, large warehouse projects on E. 18th Street totaling over 870,000 square feet of space for distribution and storage. The council will also consider increasing street sweeping in the city under item 9. (See agenda packet)
Review and Consideration of City Ordinance Prohibiting Reckless Driving Exhibitions (“Sideshows”) and Street Racing
Under item 7., the council will consider pursuing a sideshow and street racing organizer and by-stander ordinance. According to the city staff report, “the existing penalties for drivers in sideshows and street races are extensive.” However, “State law currently does not address by-standers (spectators) at these events. The proposed ordinance would hold spectators accountable and prohibit them from being within 200 feet of sideshow or speed racing events.”
Both Mayor Lamar Thorpe and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica have called for the ban. Thorpe did so a few years ago. The council had also discussed it earlier this year. But it wasn’t until Barbanica’s recent push that the mayor placed the matter on tonight’s meeting agenda.
“I requested it about three months ago in writing after meeting with Joy Motts and everybody downtown,” the councilman said. “On Aug. 2nd, I sent an email to the mayor, (Acting City Manager) Kwame (Reed) and (City Attorney) Thomas (Smith), saying I’m requesting it to come back within 90 days and to please consider the Pittsburg policy. Lamar responded back, ‘we gave direction to do this awhile back. Chief Ford was working on it but got distracted by other matters’.”
“I don’t really care who gets credit. I just wanted the ordinance in place,” Barbanica added.
Rendering of one of two E. 18th Street Warehouse Projects by the DECA Company which will offer 259 truck trailer spaces for distribution and storage. Source: RGA
E. 18th Street Warehouse Projects
Before the council members discuss a sideshow ordinance, they will consider approving two large warehouses for distribution and storage on E. 18th Street. If approved, the two facilities will have room for 259 truck trailer spaces.
E. 18th St. East Warehouse Project Site map.
Under agenda item 5., for the East Warehouse Project, according to the city staff report, “The applicant, DECA Company, is requesting approval of the proposed development of a 431,797-square-foot (sf) light industrial building for warehousing, distribution, and storage, including approximately 20,000 square feet of office space. The proposed project includes a total of 542 vehicle parking spaces and 140 truck trailer spaces. The project improvements would include, but would not be limited to, landscaping, circulation improvements, and utility installation.”
E. 18th St. West Warehouse Project Site map.
Under agenda item 6., for the West Warehouse Project, according to the city staff report, the applicant is requesting approval for an additional “442,111-square-foot (sf) light industrial building for warehousing, distribution, and storage, including approximately 20,000 square feet of office space. The proposed project includes a total of 406 vehicle parking spaces and 119 trailer truck spaces.”
The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 W. 3rd Street in historic, downtown Antioch. It can be viewed on Comcast Cable channel 24, AT&T U-verse channel 99 or via live stream on the city’s website.
Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker outside the UN building and speaking while at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland last week. Sources: (L & C) her official Facebook page and (R) Safe Return Project.
See 10/13/23 UPDATE for her responses to questions about her comments.Now claims “entire department…under review.”
Joined by another Contra Costa organization leader at Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland
“Tamisha Torres-Walker…has now misrepresented what is truly happening at the Antioch Police Department to the world…” – APOA attorneyMike Rains
Barbanica Also Disputes Colleague’s Claims
By Allen D. Payton
According to an announcement by the Richmond, CA-based Safe Return Project, “on October 5, 2023, (Antioch Mayor Pro Tem) Tamisha Torres-Walker, (the organization’s) Executive Director and Co-Founder of, alongside James Heard, Director of Lift Up Contra Costa, sat in the grand auditorium in Geneva, Switzerland, at the United Nations to shed light on the decades of alleged racism and corruption of local law enforcement of nearly half the Antioch, CA police force and the impact on Black lives and civil rights at the 38th Meeting – 54th Session of Human Rights Council.”
The announcement also shared, “The United Nations Human Rights Council welcomed 45 speakers from around the globe who gave an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement. The EDFU Foundation invited Tamisha for the prestigious honor of providing a statement before the Human Rights Council based on two reports, the EMLER and OHCHR.
The Human Rights Council will report back to the United Nations to make recommendations using the presented EMLER. OHCHR Report calls upon America to “do something” about the fundamental protection of human rights of Black people and their civil rights when it comes to cruel and unethical acts committed by the institution of American policing as well as ending the war on drugs, that has led to the incarceration and disenfranchisement of missions of Black Americans.
Torres-Walker’s statement to the Human Rights Council, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland:
‘I was encouraged to see solutions to police corruption and use of force driven by community engagement stated prominently in the EMLER and OHCHR Reports.
Civilian oversight of law enforcement is a crucial and necessary mechanism that plays a vital role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the protection of civil rights.
Antioch, CA, is the second most diverse city in the US Bay Area, with a population of over 115,000, with 20.2% of its population identifying as African American. It has a police department with more than 80% of its department sworn and non-sworn personnel under federal and state review for civil rights, use of force, and other violations of public trust.
Oversight serves as a check and balance and has the ability to promote sustainable solutions to public safety that are not simply alternatives to policing but have a higher success rate of preventing crime and harm while keeping communities safe.
Community-based solutions to public safety and protecting the rights of black Americans should be a priority, not over-policing and hypersurveillance. The city of Los Angeles’s police department’s budget, for example, is $3.2 billion annually and climbing; this is a budget the size of most developing countries’ military budgets. These sustainable solutions, like civilian peacemaker operations across America and elsewhere need to be funded at the same scale.
Again, thank you for this report, and thank Edfu Foundation for this opportunity.’”
False Information Corrected
However, part of what Torres-Walker shared is incorrect about the Antioch Police Department officers. As previously and extensively reported, the FBI and Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office have been investigating alleged “crimes of moral turpitude” involving a handful of Antioch officers. The larger number of officers caught up in the racist text scandal are undergoing an internal City investigation using an outside contracted investigator. (See related article here and here)
Furthermore, of the 105 sworn officers currently on the Antioch Police force, 80% would mean 84 are under investigation which is not correct.
Questions for Torres-Walker Go Unanswered
Questions were sent to Torres-Walker asking her to back up her claims. She was asked, “where did you get your statistics and facts that you mentioned in your speech at the U.N. meeting last week? What state review of the sworn and non-sworn personnel for civil rights, use of force and other violations of public trust is currently underway? Which agency is conducting it? Other than the FBI investigation, along with the CCDA’s office of the handful of officers for alleged ‘crimes of moral turpitude’ what federal review are 80% of the department’s sworn and non-sworn personnel undergoing? Which agency is conducting it? Why didn’t you say anything positive about our city? Do you think spreading negative and false information will benefit the Antioch Police Department and city? What good were or are you hoping to result from your speech? Are you wanting the United Nations to get involved in the current investigations of Antioch police officers? Did the City of Antioch pay for your trip?”
Questions for Chief, APOA VP & Attorney
Questions were also sent to Acting Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil, APOA Vice President Lauren Bledsoe and APOA attorney Mike Rains asking for the details on the number of officers on the force and how many are under investigation.
APOA Attorney Says No State Involvement, Provides Correct Statistics
Michael Rains, of the Rains Luca Stern St. Phalle & Silver law firm, which represents the APOA responded with the following:
“Tamisha Torres-Walker is apparently not content simply misrepresenting the facts to the local media in Contra Costa County, or to the constituents in the City of Antioch. She has now misrepresented what is truly happening at the Antioch Police Department to the world at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, which will no doubt give the City of Antioch a bad reputation internationally if someone cares to check the accuracy of her statement that ‘. . . 80% of (the Police Department’s ) sworn and non-sworn personnel are under federal and state review for civil rights, use of force, and other violations of public trust.’
First, she neglected to mention that the former Police Chief, Steven Ford, initiated a request on behalf of his Police Department for an ‘audit’ of the Department by the State of California Department of Justice. State DOJ stated that it was willing to conduct an audit but has not initiated any type of audit or review as of this date.
Civil rights attorney John Burris has ‘demanded’ that the federal government initiate an investigation of the department, but apparently, the federal government does not respond to Mr. Burris’ demands, and has thus not initiated an investigation or notified the department it intends to do so as of this date.
There is currently an administrative investigation underway relating to approximately 17 officers who have been placed on administrative leave by city officials (not at the direction of, or the concurrence by former Chief Steven Ford), for engaging in inappropriate text messaging on their personal cell phones. That pending administrative investigation has nothing to do with either civil rights violations or use of improper force.
The placement of those officers on administrative leave represents approximately 20% of the sworn workforce, not 80%, as stated by Torres-Walker, and of the 17 who have been languishing on paid administrative leave for over half this year, the incompetent City leaders (outside of the police department) who are supposedly ‘managing’ the administrative investigation by hiring ‘outside’ lawyers to interview the officers have only had about half of the officers interviewed thus far, and have no interviews at all scheduled for the other half.
Of the seven or eight officers who were interviewed, other than two who declined to answer questions and face discipline for that reason, there are no adverse findings in possession of the City against those officers.
Alternatively, the City leaders who are supposedly ‘managing’ the investigation, for whatever reason, including the fact that the findings by the outside lawyers do not play into the ‘racist culture’ narrative they have perpetuated, have not shared those findings with the officers or their attorneys.
It sounds like just another day of misrepresenting the truth to the public, but here the distortions were delivered to a much larger audience.”
Barbanica Also Disputes Torres-Walker’s Claims
District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica was also reached for comment and said in response, “I’m unaware of 80% of our department being investigated. I’m very proud of the city that I was raised in and still live in. Having the opportunity to speak on a world stage I would have personally used that opportunity to highlight the positives the city has to offer, while addressing those issues honestly and factually.”
“The investigation is going to weed out anyone who should not be part of our department. The system is designed to identify the bad cops and eliminate them and keep the good cops and make sure those who should be working are,” he continued. “It’s unfortunate, this issue is being dragged back into the news when the situation is being dealt with by the FBI, the DA’s office, the courts and internally through an independent investigator. But I want it to be reported factually. 80% of our officers being investigated is news to me.”
“What she could have said is there is a small number of officers that are being investigated by the FBI and DA’s office. The others are undergoing an internal investigation,” Barbanica added.
The announcement by Torres-Walker’s organization also shared, “The Human Rights Council will report back to the United Nations to make recommendations using the presented EMLER. OHCHR Report calls upon America to ‘do something’ about the fundamental protection of human rights of Black people and their civil rights when it comes to cruel and unethical acts committed by the institution of American policing as well as ending the war on drugs, that has led to the incarceration and disenfranchisement of missions of Black Americans.”
The others did not respond prior to publication time.
10/13/23 UPDATE: Torres-Walker Responds, Doesn’t Back Up Her Claims
On Friday, Oct. 13, Torres-Walker responded to the emailed questions with general information and without providing details to back up her claims:
Q. – Where did you get your statistics and facts that you mentioned in your speech at the U.N. meeting last week?
A. – “The entire department has been under review that’s a fact. Not everyone has been indicted which is why my comments didn’t mention charges or terminations.”
Q. – What state review of the sworn and non-sworn personnel for civil rights, use of force and other violations of public trust is currently underway? Which agency is conducting it?
A. – “You as well as the public knows that there are officers and none sworn personnel facing federal and state charges not misinformation facts. There is also an internal investigation being led by the city attorney’s office again facts.”
Other than the FBI investigation, along with the CCDA’s office of the handful of officers for alleged “crimes of moral turpitude” what federal review are 80% of the department’s sworn and non-sworn personnel undergoing? Which agency is conducting it? Why didn’t you say anything positive about our city?
“I was there to address the topic of law enforcement and its harmful impact on black people and people of color based on two UN Reports. Did you read the Reports? The issues facing the police department is public and has been devastating to the community what’s positive about that?”
Q. – Do you think spreading negative and false information will benefit the Antioch Police Department and city? What good were or are you hoping to result from your speech? Are you wanting the United Nations to get involved in the current investigations of Antioch police officers?
A. – “I also mentioned the budget of the Los Angeles police department the point was to get them to recommend investments in community based violence prevention and intervention programs as stated in my comments.”
Q. – Finally, did the City of Antioch pay for your trip?
A. – “Although I am a council member in Antioch and a resident of Antioch I attended the session as the director of Safe Return Project and a member of the lift up Contra Costa coalition. I included James if you have any questions for him on your fact finding mission.”
Torres-Walker was then asked, “which federal and state agencies are conducting a ‘review’ of the ‘entire department’?” She was also asked, “Where did you get your statistic of 80% of the department? What other personnel besides the sworn officers and the one CSO are under review or investigation?”
She responded simply, “You should be able to get that information from the city attorney.”
The questions and her responses were then sent on Saturday, October 14, to City Attorney Smith, Acting Police Chief Vigil and APD spokesmen asking for them to answer the questions posed to the councilwoman.
Please check back later for their responses and any other updates to this report.
