Antioch's Police Oversight Commission has found itself amidst a controversy that demanded the attention of the community and the city council following the use of racial slurs by Commissioner Leslie May during a council meeting in January. According to a report by Contra Costa News, May's comments were delivered in defense of former city attorney Thoma Loyd Smith, and this sparked a cascade of events that led Antioch City Councilmember Don Freitas to request May's resignation or to at least issue a public apology.

After these developments and pressures from the council, May has indeed resigned, as confirmed by a media advisory from the City of Antioch, in which they stated, "The City of Antioch will not tolerate racist behavior or language from any city employee or representative of our city." Porshe Taylor, the chair of the Antioch Police Oversight Commission, recognized the gravity of the situation, saying, "Our role as commissioners is to serve with integrity, impartiality and unwavering commitment to justice," according to the Contra Costa News report. The commission also plans to institute an "agreement of etiquette" to ensure that future proceedings align with their stated mission and values. To address the misconduct, Alicia Dianne Lacey-Oha, another commissioner, added that a level of respect must be maintained during meetings; however, the racial slurs used by May came at the wrong time, and it was not the right platform.

Antioch has had a history of holding its public representatives accountable for their conduct. The article from Contra Costa News details precedents where former commissioners were removed for various untoward comments, ranging from remarks about COVID-19 to involvement in contentious local initiatives.