Cops will be on, provide extra patrols in and around campus today
By Antioch Police Department
The Antioch Police Department is aware of messages and rumors circulating regarding a possible act of violence at Antioch High School today.
We are working closely with Antioch High School administrators and school security and are actively investigating the information that has been reported. At this time, we have no information that supports the rumor.
As a precaution, Antioch Police officers will be present at the school today, and officers will conduct additional patrols in and around the campus. We will remain in close communication with school officials throughout the day.
We understand that messages like these can be concerning for students, families, and staff. We ask everyone to rely on information from official school and Antioch Police Department sources and to avoid sharing unverified rumors or screenshots on social media.
See something, say something. If you have firsthand information, screenshots, messages, or other specific information that may assist the investigation, please contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Please call 9-1-1 for an immediate threat or emergency.
Our Dispatch Center is receiving a high volume of calls regarding this situation. If you do not have new information to report or need police assistance, please monitor official school and Antioch Police Department channels for updates rather than calling Dispatch for a status update.
We will provide additional information if there are significant developments.
Join us for our upcoming Community Violence Forum, a space for community members to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas about violence in our community. Your voice can help shape conversations and efforts toward creating a safer Antioch for everyone.
Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil and the survey inside water bill. Source: APD video screenshots.
In partnership with Cal State East Bay
“Your feedback is important to us.” – Chief Joe Vigil
By Antioch Police Department
The Antioch Police Department’s Community Survey is now open from September 10 through November 9.
In a video posted on the Department’s Facebook on Thursday, Chief Joe Vigil said, “Every day our department works hard to keep you and the community safe. But we are constantly and always looking at ways to improve how we can better serve you. That’s why we’ve partnered with a local college to put out a community survey, because your feedback is important to us. We want to hear about what you’re seeing in the city, what you’re seeing in your neighborhoods and ways that we can improve.”
“We’ll be advertising the survey at our monthly and bi-weekly Neighborhood Watch meetings, community meetings and city council meetings,” he continued. “A mailer will also go out in this month’s water bill with all the information on how to participate in the survey.”
“The survey is completely anonymous and does not ask you to provide any personal information,” Vigil stated. “Because your feedback is important to us, we want to hear how we can better improve and serve the city and the department.”
“The survey will remain open for 60 days. So, please when you see the survey, participate because your feedback is important to us,” he concluded.
Source: APD video screenshots
The survey asks about your experiences with police services, how safe you feel in Antioch, and the public safety issues that matter most to you. The survey is anonymous and was developed with California State University East Bay professors and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
According to the California Center for Data Insights and Innovation, “the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects serves as the institutional review board (IRB) for the California Health and Human Services Agency to ensure that research involving human subjects is conducted ethically and with minimal risk to participants.”
Asked about the process, Lt. Dan Fachner said, “It took six months to put the survey together and certify it through the state’s IRB. That allows us to publish it as a survey, if we ever want to do that, to ensure it is non-biased that we’re not trying to elicit or lead responses. It’s also so the average person that we send this to can understand it.”
“It’s probably about a 10-minute survey,” he continued. “I don’t know when we will issue the report. We don’t know a hard date, right now. The researchers I worked with said if we want to get the survey completed by the end of the year, we needed to do it before the holidays.”
Your feedback will help us understand what’s important to our community and where we can improve.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with your neighbors.
Scan the QR code included in the mailer inside the water bill or use this link bit.ly/3U8XAEd to participate.
By Lt. Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On Saturday, August 29, 2026, shortly after 3:30 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to the 5100 block of Arroyo Way for a reported traffic collision involving a vehicle that struck two parked vehicles.
Officers arrived and located the driver and sole occupant, a 66-year-old man, unconscious inside the vehicle. Officers immediately began providing medical aid until Contra Costa County Fire Protection District personnel arrived. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit investigators responded to the scene and are investigating the collision. The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, Traffic Collision Investigator Officer Rollins at (925) 779-6900, ext. 87145, or by email at prollins@antiochca.gov.
This information was provided by the Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Hold 2027-28 General Fund Budget Study Session to address projected $15.2 million deficit
Closed Session on employee group contracts, 9 potential lawsuits
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Antioch City Council will vote on a one-year MOU with the Antioch Police Officers Association at a cost of $661,000, purchasing AI-assisted automated license plate recognition, in-car camera and integrated public safety technology systems for the police department at a cost of $662,000, additional handheld two-way radios for APD emergency communications at a cost of $300,000, spending $500,000 on Sycamore Drive Traffic Calming Improvements, expanding the contract for the monitoring consultant required by the USDOJ’s Allen Settlement Agreement at a cost of $150,000 and appoint one member to the Sales Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
The Council will also receive the 2025 Annual Military Equipment Report from the police department and an Investment Performance Review presented by the City’s advisors, FM Asset Management, and hold a public hearing on the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Closed Session
Prior to the Regular Meeting that begins at 7:00 p.m., the Council will hold a Closed Session at 3:30 PM for a Conference with Labor Negotiators to discuss contracts for the Antioch Public Works Employee Association (APWEA), Antioch Police Sworn Management Association (APSMA), Confidential Unit, and Management Unit and a Conference with Legal Counsel for “significant exposure to litigation” as the City faces nine potential cases.
Antioch General Fund 2026-27 adjusted Budget and 2027-28 Projected Budget. Source: City of Antioch
2027-28 General Fund Budget Study Session
Then at 5:30 p.m. the Council will hold a Special Meeting Budget Study Session to discuss the Fiscal Year 2027-28 General Fund Budget Development. Acting City Manager Ana Cortez and Finance Director Dawn Merchant say the City’s consultant is projecting a decrease in sales tax revenue of $700,000 to $1.68 million for this Fiscal Year.
According to their report for Item SM-1 on the agenda, “even with the extensive work that was done (on the FY 2026-27 budget), we still did not manage to completely close the 2026-27 spending gap, and the forecast provided in June 2026 for 2027-28 was daunting, at almost $15M.
“Detrimental decreases to our sales tax budgets from the latest projections from our consultant…projecting the City’s fiscal year 2026-27 regular sales tax to decline $1,139,000, and Measure W to decline $538,000, carrying this decrease into fiscal year 2027-28. However, these projections are based only through the first quarter reporting of calendar year 2026 reporting and will be further evaluated after the next sales tax quarter. We are recommending to be cautiously optimistic for fiscal year 2026-27 at this juncture and project only a $500,000 decrease in regular sales tax and $200,000 in Measure W, carrying that corresponding reduction into 2027-28.”
In addition, the “3% COLA recently approved for the APOA bargaining unit ($745,667 FY28 impact”…and “reduction of $1.2M in projected contribution to HomeKey+ project with City Council rejection of the grant…as a result…the projected 2027-28 deficit spending has increased slightly to $15.2M.”
3% Pay Raise for Antioch Police Officers
Under Item 6.I. on the Consent Calendar, the Council will vote on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Antioch and the Antioch Police Officers’ Association that will include a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Fiscal Year 2026-27 at a cost of $661,430 and other matters.
At their meeting on July 28, 2026, the council approved a tentative agreement. Staff then prepared the MOU to replace the agreement and require another vote by the council.
As reported, the previous Tentative Agreement covered the period of Sept. 1, 2021 – Aug. 31, 2025.
In addition to the 3% COLA, the Tentative Agreement includes the following:
Increase to four floating holidays in a calendar year.
Travel meal reimbursement increase to $25.00 for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Lateral Police Officer and Dispatcher new hire vacation credit of one week upon employment.
Plus, increases to the uniform allowance, adjustments to benefits, retirement and vacation, sick leave and bereavement leave language defined and/or updated, as well as updates to the department’s grievance procedure.
Purchase Police Department AI-Assisted Integrated Technology Systems
Under agenda Item 9, the Council will consider the purchase of automated license plate recognition (ALPR), in-car camera and integrated public safety technology systems. The vote will be to approve a sole source agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for 55 fixed automated license plate recognition (ALPR) locations using Axon Outpost, six additional Axon Fleet 3 in-car video and mobile ALPR systems, and 120 Axon AI Assistant licenses for the Police Department, for a 49-month term beginning October 1, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $661,687.54.
Funding for FY 2026-27 has been identified within the existing Police Department General Fund budget; payments in future fiscal years will remain subject to the annual budget process.
ALPR helps officers and investigators identify vehicles associated with shootings, robberies, burglaries, stolen vehicles, hit-and-run collisions, organized theft, missing persons, illegal sideshows, and other serious incidents.
According to the City staff report, “the Department currently operates fixed ALPR cameras through Motorola and Flock. Motorola is decommissioning its ALPR platform, and the proposed purchase would replace and consolidate the two fixed systems into a single Axon network while expanding fixed coverage. APD already uses Axon Body 4 cameras, Axon Fleet in-car cameras, and Axon Evidence as its primary digital evidence environment.”
Purchase 30 More Police Dep’t Handheld Two-Way Radios for Emergency Communications
Under Item 6.G. of the Consent Calendar the Council will consider purchasing additional handheld two-way radios for the police department’s emergency communications. The vote will be to adopt a resolution authorizing the sole source purchase of 30 Motorola APX N70 handheld two-way emergency radios, including accessories and five years of subscriber and device management services, from Motorola Solutions in an amount not to exceed $300,717.21.
City of Antioch Service & Water System Map.
Public Hearing on 2025 Urban Water Management Plan & Water Shortage Contingency Plan
During the regular meeting the council will hold a Public Hearing on the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan. According to the City staff report for Item 7 on the agenda, he Urban Water Management Plan (“UWMP”) Act requires all urban water suppliers serving municipal water to 3,000 customers, or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet annually, to adopt and submit an UWMP every five years to the Department of Water Resources (“DWR”). The City of Antioch provided 5,311 million gallons (16,298 acre-feet) of potable water for municipal purposes to 34,739 connections in 2025 and thus is required to comply with the requirements of the UWMP Act and prepare an UWMP.
The City’s water supply consists primarily of surface water diverted from the San Joaquin River and water purchased from Contra Costa Water District (CCWD). Untreated surface water from the San Joaquin River is pumped to the City’s Municipal Reservoir, where it is stored prior to treatment at the City’s WTP. This untreated surface water may also be routed to the Brackish Water Desalination Plant (BWDP).
The Capital Improvement Budget includes adequate funding for the development of the Urban Water Management Plan from the Water Enterprise Fund. Compliance with the current provisions of the Urban Water Management Plan Act is expected to result in no fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund.
Traffic Calming Devices and their locations in one of eight segments planned for Sycamore Drive. Source: City of Antioch
Sycamore Drive Traffic Calming Improvements
Under Item 6.H. on the Consent Calendar, the council will consider awarding a construction agreement to the lowest, responsive, and responsible bidder, Martinez-based Cowan & Thompson Construction, Inc. in the amount of $488,511.94, with a $25,000 contingency for a total contract amount of $513,511.94 for the Sycamore Drive Traffic Calming Improvements Project.
According to the City staff report, the FY 2026/27 Capital Improvement Budget includes $425,000 of Gas Tax funding for the project. Approval will increase the allocation by $89,000. The projected June 30th balance of Gas Tax funds with this amendment is projected to be $1,014,298.
The devices will be placed in eight segments along the street and will include signs and raised traffic separator curb guidance systems with quick release delineator bases.
See Project plans for all planned traffic calming device locations on Sycamore Drive.
Under agenda Item 8 the Council will vote on appoint Dr, Loretta Ezeife to the Sales Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee for a full-term vacancy expiring March 2030. According to her application, she has lived in Antioch since 2008 and works as the Accounting Officer for the University of the Pacific in Stockton, “with over 25 years of experience overseeing financial operations across private industry, public agencies, and higher education.”
Meeting Details
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown and can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website or on Comcast cable TV channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.
See the complete agenda packet with staff reports here.
By Alma Galvan, Regional Marketing & Communications Director, Better Business Bureau San Francisco Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers about an alleged cryptocurrency investment operation involving BG Wealth Sharing LTD and the DSJ Exchange platform.
Since May 2026 BBB has received several Scam Tracker reports from local Bay Area consumers who reported losing a combined $69,706.60. All reports were submitted by adults age 65 or older from Alameda and San Francisco counties.
According to the reports, consumers were introduced to the opportunity through relatives, friends, or local recruiters. Four consumers reported attending presentations at a Denny’s restaurant in Hayward, where participants were shown how to open and fund accounts and use trading “signals” or codes on the DSJ Exchange platform.
Consumers reported initially depositing between $2,000 and $5,000 through cash or cryptocurrency. Some said they gave cash to another participant or intermediary who converted it to cryptocurrency and funded their DSJ account.
The consumers described seeing their account balances increase as they copied and pasted trading codes provided through an online group. Some reported being promised daily returns, bonuses, or additional trading signals for recruiting new participants.
When consumers attempted to withdraw their earnings, however, they reported that withdrawals were frozen or unavailable. Several said they were instructed to pay an additional “tax” equal to 12% of the total balance displayed in their account before their funds could be released.
One consumer reported that a $5,000 initial deposit appeared to grow to more than $24,600. The consumer was then instructed to pay nearly $3,000 more before attempting a withdrawal. The consumer refused to pay and reported being unable to access the displayed balance.
“Consumers should never have to send additional money or cryptocurrency to pay a supposed tax before withdrawing their own funds,” said Alma Galvan, Regional Marketing and Communications Director for BBB SF Bay Area. “A growing balance displayed on an investment platform does not necessarily mean that the money exists or can be withdrawn. Be especially cautious when an opportunity relies on recruiting friends and family or promises unusually consistent returns.”
The reports received by BBB are consistent with concerns raised by securities regulators in several states. The Texas State Securities Board issued an emergency cease-and-desist order involving BG Wealth Sharing and DSJ Exchange, alleging an operation that used recruitment incentives, misleading account dashboards, withdrawal restrictions, and demands for an additional 12% “exit tax” or “compliance fee.”
The State of Hawaii also issued a preliminary cease-and-desist order alleging that BG Wealth Sharing and certain promoters solicited and offered unregistered securities. Securities regulators in Utah and Washington have issued investor warnings regarding BG Wealth Sharing and DSJ Exchange.
BBB cautions that this warning concerns BG Wealth Sharing LTD and the DSJ Exchange platform described in the reports and regulatory actions. It should not be confused with unrelated businesses that use similar names.
BBB recommends the following precautions:
Verify the investment and seller are properly registered.
Be skeptical of guaranteed or unusually consistent returns.
Research opportunities independently, even when recommended by someone you trust.
Avoid investments that reward recruitment.
Never give cash to someone to invest on your behalf.
Do not pay additional taxes or fees to withdraw funds.
Be cautious of unfamiliar platforms; displayed profits may be fabricated.
Consumers who believe they have lost money should immediately stop sending funds and contact their bank, cryptocurrency exchange, or payment provider. Preserve screenshots, messages, transaction records, wallet addresses, receipts, and information about anyone involved. BBB encourages consumers to submit scram reports to:
Victims should also be alert for recovery scams. Individuals claiming that they can hack a blockchain, retrieve cryptocurrency, or recover lost funds in exchange for an upfront payment may be attempting to victimize them a second time.
ABOUT BBB:Better Business Bureau‘s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust by setting standards for ethical business behavior, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models, calling out and addressing substandard marketplace behavior, and creating a community of trustworthy businesses and charities.
A suspect is arrested in the Bay Area after attempting to steal multiple items and Organized Retail Crime Blitz statistics. Photos & source: CHP
By Jaime Coffee, Director of Communications Office of Media Relations, CHP
SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) continues to make steady progress in dismantling organized retail crime networks throughout the state. Recently, the CHP joined more than 100 law enforcement agencies for a National Organized Retail Crime Blitz, helping recover $1.05 million in stolen goods. Building on last year’s success, this event reaffirms the CHP’s commitment to holding retail theft suspects accountable.
From August 1 through 9, the CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) saturated communities and led coordinated enforcement operations at several businesses, shopping centers and retail stores statewide. Officers proactively identified and apprehended offenders suspected of organized retail theft.
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“The impacts of retail theft on businesses and communities are long-lasting. The CHP will continue to dedicate resources to catching perpetrators and holding accountable those who take from businesses and victimize communities.” – CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee
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As a result of the CHP’s statewide efforts, officers arrested 97 suspects, including eight on felony charges, and recovered more than 8,500 stolen items valued at approximately $1.05 million.
“The proactive operations conducted during the blitz are a snapshot of the work the Organized Retail Crime Task Force is committed to doing every day,” added Commissioner Duryee. “We will continue to do our part year-round to identify problematic areas, reduce retail theft and make California a safer place to work, live and visit.”
Numerous stolen sneakers recovered during coordinated enforcement efforts in San Diego. A suspect is arrested by the CHP Border Division during the ORC Blitz.
Yearly Progress Snapshot
Looking at the broader picture, the blitz builds on years of steady enforcement. Since the ORCTF’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in more than 4,700 investigations, resulting in more than 5,300 arrests and the recovery of more than 1.6 million stolen items valued at more than $76.6 million as of July 30.
In the first seven months of 2026, the CHP made nearly 350 retail theft arrests, investigated more than 280 incidents, and assisted partner agencies with more than 80 investigations, recovering an estimated $6.7 million in stolen goods.
Organized retail crime affects more than businesses. It can impact employees, consumers and the communities where these businesses operate. The CHP will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to disrupt organized retail crime and protect California’s communities.
Officers arrest a retail theft suspect during a series of proactive blitz operations in Roseville, Lodi and Stockton.
Organized Retail Theft Program
In response to AB 1065, the CHP, in consultation with the DOJ, developed a task force concept to work with allied agencies to combat organized retail theft. The CHP encourages victims of organized retail crime to use the tip link resource located on this page to report qualifying incident(s)
Beginning in 2019, Assembly Bill (AB) 1065 required the Department of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), until July 1, 2021, to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to convene a regional property crimes task force to identify geographic areas experiencing increased levels of property crimes and assist local law enforcement with resources, such as personnel and equipment. The recent passage of Assembly Bill 331 will extend the operation of the regional property crimes task force until January 1, 2026.
As reported by the National Retail Federation, organized retail theft accounts for nearly $30 billion in economic loss per year. This loss is carried by retailers on several levels but is ultimately passed on to consumers through price inflation to offset economic loss. While the problem is most commonly associated with shoplifting, it extends well beyond into associated organized criminal activity. Commercial burglary, vehicle burglary, identity theft, credit card fraud, forgery, and fencing (selling or distribution of) stolen property are part of a bigger picture that finance ongoing criminal operations.
A trunk full of stolen items was recovered and multiple stolen items recovered from a Target as a result of proactive operations throughout Bakersfield and Turlock.
In response to AB 1065, the CHP, in consultation with the DOJ, developed a task force concept to work with allied agencies to combat organized retail theft. Three regional task forces, known as Organized Retail Crime Task Forces (ORCTF), were established by the CHP in five field Divisions with the greatest need for immediate action: Golden Gate Division (encompassing the greater Bay Area), Southern Division (encompassing the greater Los Angeles region), Border Division (encompassing Orange and San Diego counties), Valley Division (encompassing the greater Sacramento area and surrounding counties), and Central Division (encompassing the San Joaquin Valley).
The CHP encourages victims of organized retail crime to report qualifying incident(s) which are covered under California Penal Code Section 490.4, Organized Retail Theft.
Graphic by Antioch Herald does not depict actual Antioch Police Officers or residents. Nor is there a pond or lake at Worth Shaw Community Park. So, leave your swimsuit, fishing pole and boat at home. Source: AI-generated using ChatGPT
By Antioch Police Department
We will be hosting a community meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Worth Shaw Community Park, 801 James Donlon Blvd. We encourage you to attend, as this is a valuable opportunity to ask questions, receive helpful information, and engage directly with your Police Department. A photo of the meeting location is attached for your convenience
