Members also rated KP 5 stars for their care and service experience
By Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
OAKLAND, Calif. Oct. 26, 2023 – Kaiser Permanente has the highest rated health plan in the state for overall quality and is also rated highest by members for care and service experience, according to the health plan ratings for 2024 by Covered California – the state’s health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.
“Kaiser Permanente is a national leader in providing our members and patients with high-quality, compassionate care and service,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “We take great pride in knowing that our own members and patients rated their experiences with Kaiser Permanente 5 stars – the highest of any health plan in the state.”
In addition to achieving a 5-star “Overall Quality” rating for quality, Kaiser Permanente received 5 stars for “Members’ Care Experience,” which is based on patient surveys asking about their recent experiences when visiting the doctor and getting medical care; “Getting the Right Care,” a measure of care that is given, comparing with the national standards for care and treatments proven to help patients; and “Plan Services for Members,” which analyzes a health plan’s efficiency, affordability, and management.
“Our physicians and staff are committed to delivering exceptional clinical care and world-class service to improve and maintain the health and well-being of our members and patients,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “We keep our patient’s needs at the forefront of every decision, and our highly skilled physicians and care teams work collaboratively to consistently provide our patients with the personalized care they deserve.”
Kaiser Permanente is the only health plan in the state to receive 5 stars in every category. Kaiser Permanente is also the only health plan in the state to receive a 5-star “Overall Quality” rating in each of the last five years.
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.7 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org
Antioch councilman, retired police lieutenant, only union member in the race adds United Steelworkers Local 326 to list
Antioch, CA – On Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, Mike Barbanica, candidate for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 5, announced the endorsement of United Steelworkers Local 326. Barbanica comes from a long line of union workers, including his father and father-in-law who were Teamsters and his grandfather, uncles, and cousins who were members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Barbanica joined the Retail Clerks union (now known as United Food and Commercial Workers) at just 16 years old, and he is currently a member of the Teamsters.
United Steelworkers Local 326 is a local branch of America’s largest industrial union, with 1.2 million members and retirees. They are responsible for negotiating labor contracts, advocating for workers’ rights, and providing services and support to members such as grievance resolution and organizing.
“We are proud to endorse Teamster and Councilman Mike Barbanica for Contra Costa County Supervisor,” said Tyson Bagley, President of United Steelworkers Local 326. “As the son and grandson of union workers and a union member himself, we know that Mike has the right values and right experience to keep delivering for Contra Costa workers and their families. We trust that at the county level, he will prioritize growing good-paying union jobs and always fight to protect our workers and their rights.”
“I am honored to have earned the trust and endorsement of the United Steelworkers Local 326,” Barbanica said. “Growing up in a union family, and as a proud union member myself, I have always supported unions because I have seen firsthand how they improve lives and help working people reach their dreams. On the Board of Supervisors, I will continue to put working families first and that means fighting for greater health care access, more affordable housing, and keeping our community safe and secure.”
Barbanica is running for Contra Costa County Supervisorial District 5, which spans the north shore of Contra Costa County, including the cities of Hercules, Martinez, Pittsburg and portions of Antioch and the unincorporated communities of Alhambra Valley, Bay Point, Briones, Rodeo, Pacheco, Crockett, Tormey, Port Costa, Mt. View, Vine Hill, Reliez Valley, and Clyde.
Barbanica is a 21 year veteran of the Pittsburg Police Department, where he retired in 2007 as a police lieutenant and earned the Bronze Medal of Valor Award for his service. Barbanica and his team were credited by the police chief with bringing about a 20% decrease in crime. Barbanica and his wife Kristine are the owners of Blue Line Property Group where they help local families access affordable housing. In 2020, Barbanica, a Democrat, was elected to the Antioch City Council and currently represents District 2.
Democrat Mike Barbanica is a veteran of the Pittsburg Police Department, where he served 21 years and retired in 2007 as a police lieutenant. On the force, Mike ran a street level narcotic and crime unit that was credited with reducing crime by 23% in Pittsburg.
In 2020, Mike was elected to represent District 2 on the Antioch City Council where he’s been cracking down on dilapidated properties, improving public safety, and getting small businesses the funds they need to succeed.
Mike and his wife Kristine are the owners of Blue Line Property Group, where they help local families access affordable housing. Mike has received numerous awards for his teaching and coaching of others, including the California and Hawaii Region “Outstanding Brokerage of the Year” and the region’s “Broker of the Year.” He also authored an international bestselling book.
With over 20 years of experience protecting our community as a police officer and now an elected Councilmember with a thriving small business, Mike is running for Contra Costa Board of Supervisors to ensure Contra Costa County is a place where every family has equal opportunity to thrive and to use his experience to tackle the housing crisis, ensure we get serious about public safety, and build a stronger community for all who call Contra Costa County home.
Mike is also active in his community. He is a member of the Elk’s Club, the local Knights of Columbus, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the National Association of Realtors, the Pittsburg Italian American Club, and other service organizations.
Mike and his wife Kristine raised their three children in the Antioch community and are grandparents to four grandchildren.
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.”
Oakley, CA – The senseless homicide of a 16-year-old male, and the shooting of three other teenagers that occurred on Saturday, October 21st in the 400 block of Shannon Way has been the top priority of the Oakley Police Department since it occurred. (See related article)
Today, October 25, 2023, at 4:30 PM the Oakley Police Department, in partnership with the United States Marshals Service, arrested Jason Walizada (18, Antioch) in connection with these heinous crimes. The arrest occurred in the 2600 block of Orange Way, Antioch. Walizada was booked into the Main Detention Facility in Martinez with a $3,500,000 bail (homicide warrant).
Over the past few days all investigators of the Oakley Police Department have spoken to dozens of potential witnesses, and they have processed a large amount of electronic/digital evidence. The arrest of Walizada does not represent the sole focus of our investigation because we will continue to investigate every lead in this case.
“This case has absolutely shattered the lives of family, friends and loved ones of the victims in this case, especially the deceased child. I am hoping we will see full measures of accountability achieved in this case.
Our work is not done, but I appreciate my investigators for all of the diligent work they have put in so far to identify a responsible in this case and to get him into custody. I appreciate all of the support from all of the allied agencies that assisted us during this investigation, particularly the United States Marshals Service.
As I previously said this youth violence does not belong anywhere- ever!
If there are any further developments or updates in this case I will be sure to provide updates.
Dyad leadership structure aims to increase patient access and further elevate clinical excellence, expertise
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Northern California-based Sutter Health announced market presidents and chief medical officers in its collaborative new dyad leadership structure, which will better enable physician and administrative leaders to partner in decision-making and leading clinical and non-clinical operations. This alignment is designed to foster a connected ecosystem that advances efforts to expand access and deliver a more digitally enabled, convenient and personalized care experience for patients where they live and work. Greater access includes earlier available appointments for primary and specialty care through expanded service options and settings. The dyad design also elevates the roles and voices of physicians to lead the critical work necessary to meet growing demand for services across the integrated healthcare system.
“I’m pleased to announce Sutter Health’s community-based market leaders,” said Warner Thomas, Sutter Health president and CEO. “They represent an exceptional field of professionals with diverse experiences and backgrounds, with outstanding leadership, healthcare administration and clinical experience, both within and outside of Sutter, as well as proven track records developing and maintaining successful working partnerships with physicians, clinicians and community partners. They will help drive operational excellence and growth at Sutter in the years ahead by integrating our teams across our system to best serve our patients, our people and our clinicians.”
Working in dyad partnership, the following new market presidents and chief medical officers will have joint responsibility for one of five consumer-based markets driving quality and integrated care across the system:
Greater East Bay Market
Tosan Boyo, president
Matthew Dahnke, M.D., chief medical officer
Greater Central Valley Market
Gino Patrizio, president
Joseph Chiang, M.D., chief medical officer
Greater Sacramento Market
Rachael McKinney, president
Peter Hull, M.D., chief medical officer
Greater San Francisco Market
Christina Oh, president
Rob Nordgren, M.D., chief medical officer
Greater Silicon Valley Market
Kevin Cook, president
Mathew Hernandez, M.D., chief medical officer
Market presidents will report directly to Mark Sevco, Sutter’s senior vice president and chief operating officer while chief medical officers will report to Todd Smith, M.D., Sutter’s senior vice president and chief physician executive.
“By working in concert and leading their individual markets, this dynamic group will elevate Sutter Health’s operational and clinical excellence to help us continue to achieve our goal to provide industry-leading quality healthcare and expand access to our services to more patients where they live and work,” said Dr. Smith.
“Having experienced, mission-driven leaders in place to help more fully integrate our healthcare delivery system and unify our new community-based market operating model is critical to best meet the needs of our expanding patient base, as well as the needs of our physicians, care teams and staff,” said Sevco. “Through shared decision-making and with an expectation of collaboration across markets and service lines within the organization, we aim to integrate our operations and patient care in a way we never have before.”
Each community-based market is strategically guided by an enterprise-wide service line strategy supported by a coordinated local team that oversees the hospitals, surgery centers, foundation care centers, clinics and urgent care sites in that geographic area. Market leaders will collaborate with medical group presidents alongside community physicians to enhance access and provide exceptional care. This structure will support a connected, seamless experience for patients across all types of care settings and throughout the enterprise.
Tosan Boyo, Greater East Bay Market President, was most recently senior vice president of hospital operations at John Muir Health. At JMH, Boyo oversaw the deployment and development of several initiatives, including LEAN Management System, service line strategies, enterprise ancillaries, health equity and government affairs. During his tenure, he was awarded Executive of the Year by the California Association of Healthcare Leaders. Boyo began his new role on Sept. 5.
Matthew Dahnke, M.D., Greater East Bay Market Chief Medical Officer, is an internal medicine hospitalist, who has been with the Sutter East Bay Medical Group since 1999. At SEBMG he served in leadership positions focusing on transforming healthcare by aligning partners, team building and developing relationships that allow for a clear understanding of mission, vision, culture change and achievement of goals. Most recently, he was chief inpatient officer for SEBMG. Dr. Dahnke began his new role on Oct. 16.
Gino Patrizio, Greater Central Valley Market President, is a dynamic leader with a distinguished healthcare career who has long been an advocate for patient care excellence. For nearly five years, he served as the CEO of Sutter Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, with operational and financial accountability for Sutter’s Memorial Hospital Los Banos and Sutter Tracy Community Hospital. Patrizio began his new role on June 12.
Joseph Chiang, M.D., Greater Central Valley Market Chief Medical Officer, was most recently the chief medical executive at Sutter’s Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. Previously, he held leadership roles as medical director and chair of emergency medicine at Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, Sutter’s Memorial Hospital Los Banos and San Joaquin General Hospital. Dr. Chiang is a proven leader who has achieved growth in surgical and procedural volumes, enhancing physician alignment, and maintaining high-quality care. Dr. Chiang began his new role on Aug. 7.
Rachael McKinney, Greater Sacramento Market President, has nearly 20 years’ experience as a mission-driven, patient-centered and relationship-focused leader working with physicians and clinicians across a broad range of care settings. Most recently, she served as CEO of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento since January 2022 with oversight of Sutter Davis Hospital and Sutter Amador Hospital as Hospital Area CEO, Central Valley. McKinney began her new role on June 12.
Peter Hull, M.D., Greater Sacramento Market Chief Medical Officer, has served in various leadership positions at Sutter Roseville Medical Center for nearly 30 years, bringing to the roles both an aptitude for organizational administration and a deep-rooted passion for the practice of medicine. Most recently he served as chief medical executive and interim CEO. Dr. Hull began his new role on June 12.
Christina Oh, Greater San Francisco Market President, comes to Sutter Health from HCA Healthcare’s Trident Health System in Charleston, South Carolina where she was president and CEO. At Trident, she expanded the system’s acute and ambulatory footprint, built tertiary services and developed a “people-first” culture among employees and physicians. Prior to Trident, Oh was CEO at Tenet Healthcare hospitals in Goodyear, Arizona and Orange County, California. Oh begins her new role on Dec. 1.
Rob Nordgren, M.D., Greater San Francisco Market Chief Medical Officer, brings more than two decades of experience leading healthcare organizations. In his most recent roles, he served as Area CEO for Sutter Bay Medical Foundation and CEO of a prominent 1,800-clinician medical group affiliated with Sutter’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Dr. Nordgren is known for his success in driving growth, clinician engagement, workplace inspiration, diversity and inclusion, health equity and performance optimization through people-focused leadership. Dr. Nordgren began his new role on June 12.
Kevin Cook, Greater Silicon Valley Market President, has more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience and brings extensive practical knowledge of health system operations at the CEO level to this new role. Cook comes to Sutter from Caldwell Butler, a healthcare consulting firm specializing in research-based methods to improve margin, operational improvement, staffing and patient experience. Before that, he served as the CEO of the University of Mississippi’s Health System for seven years. Cook began his new role on July 10.
Mathew Hernandez, M.D., Greater Silicon Valley Market Chief Medical Officer, is an internist who has served in various leadership positions at Sutter’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation for the last 18 years, focusing on culture optimization, clinical quality and operations, strategic planning and growth. Dr. Hernandez most recently served as chief medical officer of the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. Dr. Hernandez began his new role on Oct. 16.
About Sutter Health
Sutter Health’s integrated, not-for-profit system of associated clinicians, employees and volunteers support more than 3 million patients in diverse communities across two dozen counties. Headquartered in Northern California, Sutter provides access to high quality, affordable care through its hospitals, medical foundations, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent and walk-in care centers, telehealth, home health and hospice services.
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.
Police body cam footage screenshots show Daniel Mackin during and after the police foot chase with a gun in his hand (red circle). Source: Antioch Police Department
Family of man shot by Antioch police claim he didn’t fire his gun, was shot in back 9 times
Video screenshot shows suspect with gun in his hand
By Allen D. Payton
Following the officer involved shooting on Oct. 1, 2023 and the Antioch Police update on Friday, Oct. 20th, a family member of the suspect, Daniel Mackin, posted a video of the shooting on the Antioch Herald Facebook page on Saturday, Oct. 21st. (See related articles here and here)
That day, the Herald asked APD if they would soon be releasing body cam video footage from the four officers involved in the shooting and if not, then for them to consider it a Public Records Act request for the videos.
Mackin’s discarded gun. Photos by APD (left) and by Antioch Herald (right)
The video, which appears to have been taken by someone from the apartment complex on W. 3rd Street, shows Mackin running from police across then eastbound on W. 2nd Street, a gunshot could be heard while he was obscured by trees, then more shots can be seen being fired by police while Mackin was no longer in view. On Monday, Oct. 23rd, the video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by civil rights attorney Melissa Nold and later by KTVU FOX 2 News reporter Henry Lee. When reached for comment, Nold said she was not representing Mackin, but might if a civil rights lawsuit was filed. She said he is being represented by a public defender. Nord also said the family is claiming Mackin was shot in the back nine times and that he didn’t discharge his gun.
Officers can be seen pursuing and shooting at Daniel Mackin (in red circles) on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2023. Source: Video screenshots. (Red circles added by The Herald)
In response to the Herald’s PRA request Lt. Mike Melone responded today, on Tuesday, Oct. 24 with, “We are preparing the body-camera footage for release and intend to so within statutory guidelines.”
He, Acting Chief Joe Vigil and two others with the APD were informed of the video shared by the family member and Nold and asked if they could confirm the details of who shot first and if Mackin fired his gun. They were also asked how many total shots were fired by him and officers.
Mellone responded, “the incident is still being investigated by APD and the DA, therefore, additional information will be provided when it is prudent to do so.”
In addition, the Antioch Police Department issued the following press release by Lt. Rick Martin of the Antioch Police Investigations Bureau, Tuesday evening, Oct. 24:
“On October 23, 2023, a civilian cell phone video was made public depicting a recent shooting incident involving Daniel Mackin and officers of the Antioch Police Department. This video footage was not provided to the Antioch Police Department and is from an unknown source. Due to the angle and perspective at which the video was recorded, it does not depict everything that occurred.
A cell phone video recorded by a civilian of a police incident may present a limited perspective, failing to capture all angles and the entirety of the incident, potentially leading to a lack of context and incomplete information. This can hinder a comprehensive understanding of the situation and may contribute to misinterpretation or incomplete narratives.
The Antioch Police Department conducts exhaustive investigations following any officer involved shooting. The investigation related to this incident is still ongoing and could take a significant amount of time to complete. With that in mind, we withhold judgment and do not draw any conclusions about whether or not our officers acted within our policies and in accordance with the law, until after all the facts are known and the investigations are complete.
In the City of Antioch, when a critical incident such as an officer involved shooting occurs, several investigations are immediately initiated. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office conducts an independent investigation to determine whether the involved officers’ actions were within the law. The Antioch Police Department’s Detective Bureau investigates criminal conduct of any potential suspects prior to or during the incident. Finally, our Internal Affairs Division examines any areas where improvement can be made and determines whether the actions of the involved officers were within policy and consistent with our training.
If you would like more information on the Antioch Police Department’s use of force policy, please click on the following link: https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/police/apd-policy-manual.pd
The Antioch Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office are committed to transparency, and this is still an active investigation. Below are three screenshots obtained from officers’ body camera footage. The first image is of Mr. Mackin initially running and turning towards officers with a weapon in his hand. The second image is Mr. Makin pointing a handgun at officers. The third image is a crime scene photograph of the weapon Mr. Mackin was holding at the time of the shooting. The weapon was loaded at the time of this incident.
Additional information to include the involved officers’ body worn camera footage will be provided in accordance with state laws. All Antioch Police patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. Per Antioch Police Department Policy, all body-worn cameras must be worn in a forward-facing position that facilitates comprehensive recordings of the contacts and/or incidents.
It is important to keep in mind that body worn cameras are an investigative tool, and like any device, they have limitations. Body worn cameras do not necessarily capture everything an officer sees — just like a body worn camera may capture something an officer does not see. Further, body worn cameras do not have the ability to depict what an officer is feeling or experiencing during a given incident.
The APD would like to thank our community for their patience and assistance with this investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Duffy at (925) 779-6884 or 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.”
However, APD did not say if Mackin had fired his weapon nor how many bullets were fired.
