Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford on Thursday condemned racist and homophobic texts circulated among reportedly dozens of Antioch police officers that became public earlier this month as part of investigations by the FBI and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
“I condemn — in the strongest possible terms — the racially abhorrent content and incomprehensible behavior being attributed to members of the Antioch Police Department in media reports,” Ford said in a statement.
“I have taken immediate action to ensure a thorough investigation by an external independent entity is conducted and the community is not exposed to any individuals under question from this reporting,” the chief said.
At least eight Antioch officers were suspended in the past year during the ongoing probe into civil rights violations and other police misconduct.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe said last week “several” officers were suspended because of the alleged text messages. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Thorpe said the number of officers involved was up to 24.
Ford said Thursday, “On behalf of our organization, I apologize to the Antioch community for the hurt caused by this hateful speech. I promise to hold accountable the officers expressing racist or bigoted beliefs, biased insensitivity, and those boasting about harming members of the community.”
Ford also thanked investigators “for their work in helping us identify the sickening disease of racism and other incompatible behaviors within our ranks. We will continue to fully cooperate with their efforts while taking actionable steps to restore community trust in our organization.”
Click on the image shown above to view the District Attorney’s redacted report.
20 comments
Welcome to the truth. This is embedded in our society and has been for many years. No amount of anti-racism woke rhetoric will change what some people believe.
This attitude does need to change as its unfair and hurtful, …but it honestly might be hard to do until that segment of the population stops being responsible for most all the crime in Antioch.
Remember that woman in the gorilla mask throwing eggs at Larry Elder for having the audacity to run for Governor? Since he is a Black Republican, nobody cared.
Systemic racist permeates in our society and affects how many People of Color live our daily lives. Instead of trying to resolve the problem, white supremacists are doubling down on it and trying to whitewash the history of racism in America.
I really dislike racism! I dislike racial violence, and most of all I dislike hate crimes!
Do you know that according to government studies, black people, who are only 13% of the population, commit 33.4% of all hate crimes? You can see this on page 9 here: https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/hcv0519_1.pdf
This is a US Department of Justice document and you should really read it so you can understand why they might be committing almost a 300% disproportionate number of hate crimes.
Godbless.
Anything sent electronically, before you hit send, you better be willing to put it on a bulletin board at a grocery store with your name on it. Risking a $100,000 + a year paying job is pure stupid.
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Whether Police OR POLITICIAN there’s an expectation by the public of a level of responsible ADULT behavior.
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Oakland-Antioch, same thing.
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Riders II?
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Gonna be put under Federal oversight like Oakland, the city of mediocrity?
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Did anyone else see the video of the Mayor having a melt down? He wanted to “Go outside” with a constituent at a city council meeting , and stormed out of the meeting. Of course challenging to fight is a crime , 415 PC.
If an Antioch Officer displayed that lack of self control the Mayor would , no doubt , publicly call for his dismissal
The Mayor is thoroughly enjoying bad mouthing the police department and loving the attention. He needs to maintain his dignity.
That isn’t Sycamore Drive.
Sexual assault and drunk driving is also not good for anyone.
Lamar exploded when a citizen requested some alleged controversial texts between him and Council member Tamisha. 🤔 I bet they will not be released because you know blacks can not be racist.
“…identify the sickening disease of racism..” that’s new to me, it’s a disease? Following the science?
The public defender already has reviewed the cases that the racist cops are involved. How many convictions will be thrown out🤔
The remarks made by the police are not good. I would like to hear how they got that attitude. Are others smart enough to keep their mouths shut?
We never had problems like this until Thorpe became mayor. I’ve lived here over 30 years. He needs to go. He dosent have the class or temperament for this job….vote him out. Crime has gotten worse and Antioch looks like a 3rd world country with all the homelessness trash just thrown on sidewalks and streets. I drove down 10th street going to Costco and a homeless women pulled down her pants and peed on the sidewalk. Nice for small kids to see.
The mayor cannot handle his job; therefore, how can he be over the police department? He is more concerned about homophobic slurs and loves to use the race card because he is a weakling and not suitable to run Antioch. Antioch has so much crime and innocent people being murdered. The mayor likes to tweet how wonderful Biden is – what’s that tell you?
All the cops who made stupid and incriminating statements in their text messages are not smart enough to be cops anyway. Didn’t anyone learn anything about e-mail & text messaging from Hillary Clinton?
Careful Dr Jellyfinger…you badmouth Killary and you may wind up Epstein’d. It’s happened
I might tie my hands behind my back, hang myself and then shoot myself in the chest with a shotgun…. “Arkansas suicide” style.
I don’t live in Antioch or Pittsburgh, l use to have clients out there when l sold insurance, my client were solid middle class, black or white, the had amassed enough money to look into long term care insurance or investing some in an annuity. Where l work now l work with and have customers that live out there, they are of all races, all middle class.They are as upset about the crime as we all are. So for all the talk about the crime in those areas, which l don’t doubt it is also affected all the honest people living there. Best not to paint with too broad a brush.
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