Antioch's search for a new, permanent police chief is still underway, but in the meantime, Joe Vigil has been appointed the interim chief, a role familiar to him given his previous tenure. With a long history in law enforcement, including stints in Sacramento, Richmond, and Antioch, Vigil is prepared to confront various challenges before the department. The Antioch Police Department highlighted Vigil’s extensive experience in a recent social media post, where they emphasized his past roles, educational background, and prior service as acting police chief from August 2023 to February 2024.

In the wake of the city's first homicide of the year and a discriminatory text message controversy that shook the department, Joseph Vigil is stepping into a spotlight fraught with high expectations and vigilant oversight. "Transparency, community trust, crime reduction are our priorities," Vigil announced, as per NBC Bay Area, during his introduction. Besides tackling these high-stakes goals, Vigil’s appointment follows the recent settlement reached by the city with the U.S. Justice Department to close the chapter on a troubling period for the department.

City Manager Bessie Marie Scott, confident in Vigil's capability, stated, "Chief Vigil has dedicated his life to serving the residents of Antioch. He’s a proven leader who will continue championing our reforms addressing violence reduction, community engagement, and strengthening our police ranks," as confirmed by the Antioch Police Department.