Friday night special council meeting premature; Mayor Thorpe’s and council’s reforms should be “based on findings” and wait for Bridging the Gap report

APD needs to improve communication with council, public

Make new aspirational goal to be “The safest city in California with over 100,000 population”

For the past year, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe has been pushing for police reforms in our city. Last year he announced his support for those from the 8 Can’t Wait nationwide campaign, and five of his own. Thorpe’s latest list of six reforms may sound good, and while I support or don’t have a problem with some of them, he’s yet to provide any data to support the need for most of them in Antioch. Also, at the same time, neither Thorpe nor any of the council members have offered any proposals to increase and improve the city’s ability to fight and reduce crime.

Following are the 8 Can’t Wait policy recommendations Thorpe said, last year, he wanted implemented:

1. Ban police use of chokeholds and strangleholds, including the carotid restraint (now, state law)
2. Require officers to de-escalate situations whenever possible
3. Require officers to exhaust all options before shooting, including less lethal force
4. Ban officers from shooting at moving vehicles
5. Establish a use of force continuum that restricts using the most severe force to most extreme situations
6. Require comprehensive reporting for each time an officer fires or points their weapon at someone
7. Require verbal warnings before using deadly force (already an Antioch policy)
8. Require officers to intervene to stop excessive force by other officers (already an Antioch policy)

Thorpe also proposed his own five reforms, at that time: Demilitarize our local police; Increase police accountability; Improve police hiring practices; Excessive use of force and Budget appropriations.

Additionally, Thorpe said he had signed the Obama.org’s “My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Pledge”, to make Antioch an “MBK Community” which asks local officials to:

1. Review the police use of force policies in my community
2. Engage my community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in our review
3. Report the findings of our review to my community and seek feedback within 90 days of signing this pledge
4. Reform my community’s police use of force policies based on findings

When asked for his thoughts on Thorpe’s proposed reforms at that time, Antioch Police Chief T Brooks responded, “I look forward to hearing the discussion…on this proposal.  I am especially interested in what specific reforms they believe are necessary at the Antioch Police Department.”

In addition, Brooks responded the next day informing the public that five of the 8 Can’t Wait reforms had been or were already being implemented by his department, and why he doesn’t recommend implementing all of them. Those not being implemented or which the chief doesn’t recommend are numbers 3, 4 and 5 and he explained why.

More and Latest Reforms

As presented during his press conference on Monday, Thorpe is now offering six areas of reform including Mental Health, Training, Demilitarizing, Accountability & Transparency, Hiring, and Communication. The added reform, in the area of mental health, would include forming a crisis team to accompany police officers on mental health distress calls and require annual mental health assessments of police officers and dispatch workers. His proposed training reforms includes “implicit bias training” which is based on the assumption that our police officers interact with different people differently based on their skin color, ethnicity or other characteristics.

The reform of communications with city officials stems from Thorpe’s claim that the APD did not inform him or the other council members about the death of an Antioch resident, Angelo Quinto in late December following an interaction with police, and that he had to learn about it on social media the first week of January. However, at Wednesday’s press conference, Chief Brooks, who said he was on vacation at the time, stated someone in his department had contacted the mayor about the man’s death, at that time. A request for documentation to support that claim has been requested.

Thorpe also provided more details about the six reforms he is now asking the city council to consider.

Requests for Data

Asked on Monday, other than the large vehicle the APD has that’s mainly used during parades, how has the department become militarized and when was the last time the APD purchased, Thorpe did not respond. That and the question, when was the last time the department purchased or received any military equipment were posed to Chief Brooks. He too did not respond.

The chief was also asked how many citizen complaints the department has received over the past year, three years and five years and how they were addressed. While Brooks has yet to respond, those are the questions the council members need to ask before making any decisions.

Decisions Must Be Based on Findings

Thorpe’s proposed reforms and comments during the press conferences appear to assume Antioch Police officers are violating people’s rights and not following best practices nor use of force policies. Yet, if he wants to make Antioch an MBK city, then Thorpe should follow the pledge he’s signed and make sure his comments and decisions are “based on findings” and that he and the council have first reviewed the “police use of force policies in my community”. Those should be part of any agenda item on that proposed reforms.

During his press conference on Monday, Thorpe said he wants the council to “review and audit all police complaints,” and “proactively review our use of force policies.” Again, that should be done before voting on any reforms.

Other than approving body cameras and police car dash cams, for which a majority of council members have publicly expressed support and are long overdue – since they protect both public, as well as police officers from false accusations – as well as improved communications by the department, the mayor and council need to slow down on the rest of the proposed reforms and base their decisions on actual data of what’s happening in our city.

Special Council Meeting Premature

In a reaction to the in-custody death, early Wednesday morning, of a man who, based on the police report, was high on drugs at the time of his interaction with police, Thorpe has now called for a special council meeting, tomorrow night at 5 p.m. to begin discussions on his proposed reforms.

Yet, the report from the three Bridging the Gap forums, in which hundreds of Antioch residents and business owners participated, is not yet completed and released by the paid consultants hired to facilitate the process.

So, while Thorpe’s pledge to “Engage my community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in our review” may have been met, he’s now going to ignore that input and wants the council to do the same when deciding on his reforms.

Hear from Chief Brooks & Get Data, First

Most importantly, Thorpe’s proposed reforms aren’t based on proof of need. For the past year we’ve been hearing the phrase “follow the science” regarding government officials’ responses to COVID-19. Yet, where is the scientific evidence to support the need for any of the reforms he’s proposing? The council should make data-driven decisions. Not base them on what is happening in other cities across the country, what sounds good, or after being caught up emotionally or politically in some national movement.

If they want to consider any of the reforms the council must first hear from Chief Brooks – our city’s leading expert on police services and fighting crime – about what is already happening within the department and direct staff to provide the data and evidence to support any and all of the proposed reforms.

Yes to Police Cameras, Mental Health Support

I definitely support body and dash cams and those should be approved immediately. I also don’t have a problem with including mental health professionals on calls for service involving crisis interventions. If that’s working elsewhere to reduce the need for police interaction with some individuals and the need for jail time, when what will be more appropriate and effective is either medicine or to be in a substance abuse counseling program, then let’s consider it – again, based on the need from the data. I also support improved communications by the police department.

Better APD Communications

At the same time, Chief Brooks and the APD need to do a better job communicating with and informing the public, especially in matters involving a death following an interaction with police. While he was on vacation at the time of Quinto’s death in December, that shouldn’t have prevented Brook’s second-in-command from issuing a press release and informing the public that it had occurred following an interaction with Antioch officers. Police agencies issue press releases about such an incident even while their investigation continues, all the time. We shouldn’t have to wait months to hear from APD, such as with the Angelo Quinto incident and death, the arrest for arson by Antioch resident and protest leader Shagoofa Khan, and the incident involving Councilwoman Torres-Walker’s sons, which is being investigated by an outside agency as she demanded.

In fact, until that investigation is completed, Torres-Walker needs to recuse herself from voting on any police reforms, to avoid making a biased decision.

Focus on Crime Reduction, Criminal Reform

Most importantly, where are the mayor’s or other council members’ proposals to increase public safety and improve the Antioch Police Department’s ability to fight and reduce crime in our city? That was the focus of both Measures C and W, in which we the people voted twice to tax ourselves in order to increase the number of sworn police officers on the force and still should be.

While the good news is most Part-I crimes have been reduced in Antioch over the past several years, we have a long way to go to ensuring our city is safe for all of our residents and in all parts of town.

The council needs to be asking what decisions they can make and policies they can approve to help the APD hire more police officers and sooner to get us to at least 126 sworn police officers, to achieve the long-desired goal of 1.2 officers per 1,000 population.

What we also haven’t heard from the mayor or any council members is how can we have criminal reform. What programs are they proposing to deter people from committing crime, to reduce gang violence, to reduce recidivism of formerly incarcerated individuals, etc.? Torres-Walker runs a non-profit that works with ex-cons to help them find jobs, mainstream them back into society and help reduce recidivism, which is laudable. Surely, in her interactions with her clients, she’s learned from them what can be done in that area. Where are her proposals on that? What happened to Operation Ceasefire which she’s previously mentioned, for example? Is that still being implemented in Antioch?

New Aspirational Goal, Don’t Make Things More Difficult for Police

Perhaps some of the police reforms are needed. But until they have the data and demonstrate to the public the need for them is proven, our elected leaders must get back to focusing on reducing crime, rather than on efforts to reform what may not need reforming. While those efforts do get headlines and attention from regional media, I’d love to instead, someday write a headline that reads “Antioch rated safest city of over 100,000 population in California”. Let that be our city leaders’ goal and have them work and focus on that. In fact, it should be on the top of the list of their new aspirational goals. The police are already hamstrung by the voter-approved state Prop. 47 which reduce the penalty for stealing up to $950 of merchandise to a misdemeanor, and by a soft-on-crime District Attorney and a COVID-19 situation that has resulted in the release of criminals back into our community. Let’s not make things more difficult for the Antioch Police Department to fight crime and improve public safety in our community.

Allen Payton is the Publisher and Editor of the Antioch Herald, AntiochHerald.com and ContraCostaHerald.com. He is a former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman. During his term on the city council 19 sworn officers were added to the police force and crime was reduced citywide by 40%, and in the city’s highest crime area by 80%. He’s been a newspaper publisher in Antioch for over 15 of the past 19 years.

By Corporal Steve McElroy #2500, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On February 24, 2021 at approximately 3:48 p.m., Antioch Police officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 300 block of W. 20th Street. Further information was reported that a female on scene had been shot, and that two suspects had fled the scene on foot. Upon police officers arriving on scene, a female victim was located suffering from gunshot wounds to the abdomen and leg, according to one witness.

The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition. The suspects in this incident were not located and motive for the shooting remains unknown at this time. As of this writing, the case remains under active investigation.

Multiple bullet casings were found on the ground in the parking lot of the apartment complex on 20th Street. The same witness said, “they sprayed the place pretty bad” and “shot up one of the walls of the apartment.”

By Lieutenant Joe Donleavy #6011, Antioch Police Field Services

On Feb. 24, 2021 at approximately 2:02 PM, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to Target at 5769 Lone Tree Way on a report of an armed robbery at the CVS pharmacy inside of the store. While in route, Antioch Police Dispatch received updated reports that someone had been shot at that same location.

Arriving officers located the two suspects in a vehicle as they were attempting to flee the scene. Other officers located an adult male suffering from a single gunshot wound at the entrance to the store. The shooting victim, an adult male, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Ramon Meza-Morales and Raul Garcia, both age 18 and Antioch residents, were arrested and eventually booked into Martinez County Jail for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Also tied to store robbery in Brentwood; bail lowered from $11 million to $9.8 million

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

This morning detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Antioch Police Department and Brentwood Police Department jointly filed their cases against 26-year-old Darryon Williams of Stockton. He is the suspect in Saturday’s multiple shooting of first responders in Antioch, a murder in Discovery Bay and robbery in Brentwood. The Contra Costa D.A.’s Office has filed the following charges against Williams: Complaint filed vs. Williams February 24 2021

• Murder
• Second degree robbery
• Shooting from a vehicle
• Assault on peace officer/firefighter with semiautomatic firearm (6 counts)
• Assault with a semiautomatic firearm (3 counts)
• Fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly

Williams remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $9,790,270 bail. According to Scott Alonso, PIO for the Contra Costa DA’s Office, Williams’ arraignment will be held Thursday, Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 1 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court building in Martinez.

The Office of the Sheriff would like to thank the Antioch and Brentwood Police Departments for their assistance during our homicide investigation. The three agencies worked together closely and collaboratively. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on the Discovery Bay homicide is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441 or at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

The Antioch Police Department can be reached at (925) 778-2441. Anonymous text tips can be sent to 274637 with the keyword ANTIOCH. The Brentwood Police Department can be reached at (925) 809-7911.

“According to the officers the man exhibited extraordinary strength” – Chief Brooks

Thorpe announces special Friday night council meeting to expedite discussion of his police reform proposals; reports on investigations will be made public Brooks said

By Allen Payton

At an emergency press conference Wednesday afternoon, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Police Chief Tammany Brooks announced the in-custody death of a 33-year-old Hispanic man following struggles with police in the middle of both Lone Tree Way and James Donlon Blvd., just after midnight, early Wednesday morning. (See CBS KPIX5 broadcast of press conference)

Thorpe was first to speak at the press conference. “I do want to thank our men and women out patrolling our streets,” he said. “It’s dangerous work.”

“Late last night, I was informed by the chief that an individual they were trying to detain had passed away,” Thorpe continued. He then spoke of an investigation by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office and “a separate independent investigation is underway to see if any of our policies were violated.”

“I offer my deep condolences to the family,” he said. “They will not be able to achieve any comfort and peace until they have the answers that the need as it relates to their loved one. I want the citizens of Antioch to know they will be provided answers.”

“In the event there was any negligence we will seek the fullest effort to ensure there is accountability,” Thorpe stated. “I do believe officers enter the profession to serve. But…there are critical reform measures that need to be implemented.”

The mayor said the city needed to expedite his proposed reforms, which he outlined on Monday. (See related article). He then announced a special council meeting for this Friday at 5:00 pm. “We are going through the reforms,” Thorpe stated, “and decide whether the council is going to go forward with those reforms.”

Chief Brooks spoke next, saying, “This morning just after midnight, the Antioch Police Department received a call from a man rambling incoherently. During the course of the 911 call another man could be heard in the background with the caller arguing over possession of a cell phone.  At one point during the call, there were sounds of a physical struggle as well. Around this same time our Dispatch received a call that a Lyft driver activated a mobile alert and needed police assistance with a subject who attempted to steal his cell phone and fled from the vehicle.”

“Two officers were sent to the area of Lone Tree Way and Ridgerock Drive with very limited information after the man called a second time and gave his location,” he continued. “When officers arrived, the man appeared paranoid, yelling that they were not really police officers, despite the fact they were in fully marked APD police cars and in full uniform. The officers attempted to employ crisis negotiation tactics while trying to de-escalate the situation. After a short time the man ran into oncoming traffic on Lone Tree Way. He attempted to enter a car that was stopped at a red light by pulling on the door handle and banging on the window yelling for the driver to let him inside. After nearly being struck by several vehicles, officers believed the man was putting himself, the public and the officers in eminent danger and moved in, in an effort to try and detain him.”

“The man ran onto the street on James Donlon Blvd. where officers caught up with him. He lost his footing and fell to the ground,” Brooks continued. “A struggle ensued as officers tried to gain control of the man and get him out of the roadway as vehicles continued to pass by them. According to the officers the man exhibited extraordinary strength and they were unable to gain control of his arms. A third officer arrived on scene and deployed his taser which allowed them to overcome the man’s resistance. Almost immediately, after being able to get the subject in handcuffs, he appeared to lose consciousness and the officers recognized this as a medical emergency. Officers immediately began CPR and applied an automated external defibrillator and administered two cannisters of doses of NARCAN, a medication used to counteract the effects of opioid drugs.”

“Based on the knowledge of facts as reported to be me through the investigation thus far, I will share with you no knee or other limb was ever applied to the man’s kneck during this incident,” the chief stated. “There was no use of pepper spray or impact weapons, no hand or leg strikes were used, and the carotid restraint hold was never attempted.”

The man was taken to the hospital where he later died, Brooks shared then offered his “deepest sympathies to the man’s friends and family.”

“Our officers are completely devastated by what happened last night,” he said and then explained they’ve been offered counselors and “placed on paid administrative leave…which is customary in these types of situations.”

“To ensure transparency, impartiality and public confidence in the investigatory process, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office is leading this investigation and they will have the full cooperation of my staff,” Brooks stated. “In the event the District Attorney’s investigation determines that our officers acted unlawfully, I want the public to know that I would request and expect the involved officers to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Brooks stated. “Additionally, and separately, there will be an independent, third-party administrative investigation into this incident.”

“Should there be any violation of Antioch Police Department policies I can assure the community I will hold these officers accountable for their actions,” he continued. “Regardless of the outcome, these investigations will be available for public review, once completed.”

“It is important that our community understand and have the opportunity to review the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident,” Brooks stated. “We are committed to being open and transparent in this process. Our department has always been and will always be focused on the safety and well-being of our community and I will do everything I can to continue earning your trust. Providing exceptional service to everyone is vitally important to me as well as my officers.”

“This is preliminary information and additional facts, and circumstances may come to light as the investigation continues,” Brooks added. “If we have additional information at a later date, we will share that with the community.”

Asked if he supports body cameras, which is one of the reforms Thorpe is promoting and has the public support of at least three other council members, the chief responded “absolutely”.

 

By Allen Payton

In a notification received at 2:21 p.m., Wed. Feb. 24, 2021, the Antioch Police Department announced an emergency press conference will be held by Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Police Chief Tammany Brooks, today at 4:00 p.m. regarding an in-custody death that occurred in the city, just after midnight this morning.

For details about the incident between the police and man as well as from the press conference, click here.

Total of 18 people arrested for weapons, narcotic charges

By Sergeant Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Special Operations Unit (Investigations Bureau)

Over the course of the past six months, the Antioch Police Department has received numerous citizen complaints regarding subjects loitering and selling narcotics in the 1800 block of Cavallo Road. As a result of these citizen complaints, the Antioch Police Department’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) started a six-month investigation into the illegal narcotics trafficking that was taking place in this area. During this investigation, Detectives from the Special Operations Unit, assisted by the Antioch Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team, and the Antioch Police Gang Unit, have recovered 13 firearms and have made numerous arrests for narcotics violations.

As part of this long-term investigation, Detectives from the SOU authored a search warrant for several locations within the City of Antioch. On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at about 9:50 am, Detectives from of the Special Operations Unit, Investigations Division, along with officers from the Problem Oriented Policing Team, Gang Unit, Community Engagement Team and the Traffic Unit served the warrant at the various locations, to include the 1800 block of Cavallo Road.

Over the course of this investigation, 18 individuals have been arrested for various weapons and/or narcotic related violations. Three adult males from Antioch were arrested during today’s operation, ages 30, 47 and 62. The charges ranged from violations of parole, possession of marijuana for sales and possession of cocaine for sales. The Antioch Police Department would like to extend their appreciation to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and California State Parole for their assistance in this investigation and takedown.

Additional inquiries or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective McDonald at (925) 779-6922 or by emailing RMcdonald@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

By Antioch Police Department

On Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, at about 7:00 pm, Officer Chavez administered two doses of Narcan to a 30-year-old male overdosing on an opiate at a residence in Southeast Antioch. His actions were successful in reviving the man, who was sent to a local hospital.

Did you know APD officers are dispatched immediately to overdose calls and frequently use Narcan to save lives? Many officers are also equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to help those suffering from cardiac arrest.

Do you suffer from drug/alcohol addiction or know someone who does? There is help available from the Contra Costa Health Services Behavior Health Hotline. Substance abuse counselors are available seven days a week by calling toll-free 800-846-1652 or 2-1-1 from within Contra Costa County. You can also visit their website at https://cchealth.org/aod

Together, we can help those who suffer from addiction and their families.  #antiochpdca