Feds, Police Reach Agreement In Race Discrimination Scandal

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA— The U.S. Justice Department reached an agreement with the Antioch Police Department and the city of Antioch this week over allegations of race discrimination and other discriminatory conduct by APD officers against members of the public, federal authorities announced.

The Justice Department— DOJ— and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California launched a joint investigation in June 2023, shortly after the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office revealed text messages that dozens of APD officers exchanged between September 2019 and January 2022. It was alleged the messages contained racist and sexist slurs and other discriminatory content about citizens of Antioch.

Text Messages

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated whether APD and the actions of its officers were compliant with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. Both laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by recipients of federal financial assistance, such as APD.

"Law enforcement is only effective when it inspires public confidence," U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey said Friday. "A police department that discriminates based on race and other protected classes undermines both public safety and public confidence. Today’s agreement will help ensure that policing in Antioch is done constitutionally and will help restore public trust."

Text Messages

Federal authorities said the city of Antioch and the city manager cooperated with the investigation and committed to maintaining non-discriminatory police operations moving forward, with ongoing efforts to prevent and address such practices within APD.

"Fair and non-discriminatory policing is fundamental to effective law enforcement, especially for those agencies that receive federal funding," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "In working with the Justice Department to institute policing reform, Antioch Police Department sends a strong message that the discrimination and misconduct that prompted this investigation will not be tolerated. The agreement we have secured will ensure that Antioch’s policing practices are free from discrimination in the road ahead — the community deserves nothing less."

APD agreed to a five-year period during which it will be monitored. It must form and police oversight commission and and must regularly report to the DOJ.

As part of the agreement, APD will hire a law enforcement expert to serve as a consultant. The parties will jointly select the consultant to review and update APD’s policies, procedures and training on various topics, including non-discriminatory policing, use of force, hiring and promotions, investigations of misconduct, discipline, community policing, language access and other topics.

The consultant must be selected within 90 days. The person chosen should have a proven track record in civil rights and law enforcement compliance, as well as California law enforcement experience and knowledge of state compliance requirements. The consultant will be the single point of contact with the DOJ and must retained by APD at the city's expense for under $250,000/year.

The consultant will give regular updates to the Antioch City Council and will be responsible for ensuring APD and the city follow through with the agreement.

The Agreement

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Agreement To Strengthen Police Accountability, APD Says

The Antioch Police Department issued a news release about the agreement, stating that the actions that prompted the federal investigation — the department's use-of-force practices and the texting scandal —"were unacceptable and failures occurred."

"The City of Antioch is fully committed to ensuring that such incidents never occur again.Our collaboration with the USDOJ underscores our dedication to fostering trust, transparency, and accountability within our Police Department. Under this five-year agreement, we will implement and enhance comprehensive policies, practices, training programs, community engagement initiatives, and oversight mechanisms to ensure that officers uphold integrity and fairness while addressing misconduct swiftly and effectively."

"We acknowledge that trust is earned, not given, and this agreement marks a meaningful step forward. We also remain fully cooperative with the California Department of Justice (CADOJ), which is conducting an independent pattern-and-practice investigation into the Department.

"Our commitment to creating a transparent, accountable, and community-focused Police Department remains steadfast. We will continue to serve the residents of Antioch with honor, respect, and fairness."