The Antioch Police Department issued a statement Saturday stating Antioch City Public Information Officer Rolando Bonilla purported to be speaking on behalf of Antioch Police Chief Steve Ford to Bay Area Media.
The following statement was issued Saturday by Antioch Police Lieutenant Michael Mellone in his
capacity as the supervisor of their media relations team:
“I have become aware that some Bay Area media outlets may have received a statement from City of Antioch PIO Ronaldo Bonilla purported to be on behalf of our Chief of Police, Dr. Steven A. Ford. Mr. Bonilla is employed by Voler Strategic Advisors and is the contracted PIO for the City of Antioch.
Specifically, a statement attributed in Chief Ford’s name was provided to KRON 4 related to a recent news event involving a series of commercial burglaries, and our delayed response times. While Mr. Bonilla is a contracted PIO for the City of Antioch, he is not the PIO for the Police Department.
Our official PIO is Officer Ashley Crandell and I am her supervisor.
Chief Ford has authorized me to inform all media that this attribution in his name provided to KRON 4 was never made or authorized by him personally. We have learned that this statement was provided to KRON 4 from Mr. Bonilla representing himself as the City of Antioch PIO.
Any media outlets receiving statements on behalf of the Antioch Police Department from an individual outside of our organization are respectfully requested to verify the accuracy of these statements by contacting PIO Officer Ashley Crandell (email: [email protected]), myself (email: [email protected]), or the Antioch Police Department member directly, which is something we can help facilitate if needed.
KRON 4 has since retracted the statement attributed to Chief Ford’s name incorrectly, with an editor’s note indicating it was provided by an unauthorized representative. We appreciate KRON 4 staff working with us to quickly correct this issue and invite any media to communicate openly with us over matters involving our Police Department. Chief Ford has directed us to embrace best practice police policies on transparency, which involves open communication with media and our community. We continue to investigate this incident and will provide relevant updates when it is appropriate to do so.”
Editors Notes
This is now the second time Bonilla has had controversy involving KRON4 as back in October he released a statement on behalf of Mayor Lamar Thorpe alleging he was assaulted by Tom McNell after an Antioch Chamber of Commerce event. To date, no assault charges have been filed against McNell nor has filing a false police report been issued to the mayor. McNell says no punches were ever thrown and Thorpe instigated the exchange — see story
Back on March 14, 2017, Rolando Bonilla of Voler Strategic Advisors, gave a presentation to the City of Antioch on Communications and Public Relations Support for the City of Antioch
Back on May 10, 2022, the Antioch City Council agreed to the 6th Amendment for consulting services with Rolando Bonilla and Voler Strategic Advisors. The fiscal impact is $8,000 per month ($96,000 per year) which does not include cost for any media advertising, buying and printing.
Last year, Bonilla ran for San Jose City Council for District and lost in the primary gathering just 15.60% of the vote in that district coming in 4th place out of 5 candidates.
Background and previous stories:
- APOA Claims Chief Ford Never Made “Circus Like Antics” Quote to KRON4
- Antioch Business Burglary Suspects Arrested and Identified
- Antioch POA Releases Statement on Mayor Thorpe and Muzzling of Information
- Antioch Police Issue Open Letter to Community on Property Crimes
- Two More Antioch Businesses Hit With Burglary, 50 Business Burglaries in 2023
- Antioch Police Take 4 Hours to Respond to Hillcrest Taphouse Burglary Call
11 comments
Bonilla needs to be fired by the council !
Thorpe needs to be recalled or resign. He needs to be held accountable for his actions.
If APD has an “official PIO” then why does it also need a “contracted” PIO? Other cities do not. Looks like more cronyism and spin doctoring at taxpayer expense.
Robert C, you clearly did not read the entirety of the article, or you misunderstood it.
“ While Mr. Bonilla is a contracted PIO for the City of Antioch, he is not the PIO for the Police Department.”
And why does the CITY need a contracted PIO? What benefit do taxpaying citizens get from this function? I submit the only “benefit” is to the mayor and council for the purpose of political spindoctoring. The differences between Antioch and similar sized cities is striking. I’d love to have the mayor and his city manager justify the funds being spent on this.
There’s no city employee capable and trusted enough to be in charge of Communications and Public Relations? Isn’t there a better use for that $96,000 per year?
Maybe the POA should spend more time solving crime and less worrying about their image
So the POA shouldn’t be transparent with the public? If it weren’t for the POA, how would we know about the suspects arrested? You do realize the POAs activities are not a part of their paid duties?
How has Con Johnson not yet come out and announced they have terminated this contract? Bonilla and Voler Strategic Advisors need to be terminated. Antioch has some of the worst outreach and communication I have seen and Bonilla is being paid $96,000? What are residents getting in terms of outreach anyway? Antioch doesn’t communicate. Sounds like they are simply cutting a check to a friend of Monica Wilson and Lamar Thorpe.
Pathetic that the City of Antioch is paying $96,000 a year for this knucklehead, only to have his actions blow up in their faces like too many other things that they oversee, like keeping that mayor of theirs employed.
Amateurs
Shuck and jive ! Tell me I’m wrong.
Comments are closed.