The Antioch Police Department (APD) has taken a step towards resolving long-standing issues around race discrimination following an investigation prompted by a publicized texting scandal. In separate announcements from the Justice Department and the City of Antioch, an agreement has been reached to implement reforms designed to ensure policing is free of discrimination.
According to details released by the Justice Department, the investigations were initiated after the surge of discriminatory text communications among APD personnel spanning September 2019 and January 2022. The reform measures are set to include hiring an expert law enforcement consultant to comprehensively review and update APD's policies and training on various topics, including non-discriminatory policing and use of force. The involved parties aim to quickly put into effect these changes, setting a framework for data collection and departmental monitoring over the next five years.
The City of Antioch's statement echoed the resolution agreement's importance for the community, emphasizing their commitment "to ensuring that such incidents never occur again." It stated the settlement includes a five-year term under which the APD will implement enhanced policies, training, and oversight mechanisms dedicated to maintaining integrity within the force.
"Fair and non-discriminatory policing is fundamental to effective law enforcement," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division had told the Justice Department. This sentiment is indicative of the federal government's stance that breaches in trust have no place in law enforcement—a tenet clearly underscored by today’s agreement. With the APD also cooperating with an ongoing independent investigation by the California Department of Justice, the city reassured its residents of efforts to rebuild the fractured trust through actionable reform.
