Antioch Special Meeting for Police Audit Lacks Substance and Transparency

At a time when transparency is needed most, the exact opposite is occurring as the Antioch City Council agenda for Tuesday is a grand total of just 3-pages long.

One has to ask is this council actually serious about the proposed audit or more concerned with making headlines across the country because Tuesday is essentially a game of 20-questions of what will be discussed after statements made last week on some very serious topics that do need to be addressed.

Rather than be transparent in detail about what each agenda item actually is about, Antioch residents instead get talking points and get to guess on the substance to be discussed–that is not right. They also get a meeting at 5:00 pm to go along with an incomplete city council agenda with no staff report, no supporting documents, no policy, no laws, no nothing.

Each item states: It is recommended that the City Council discuss, receive public comments, and provide direction to staff.

1. AUDIT OF THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS PROCESS
2. AUDIT OF THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT’S HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL
   PRACTICES
3. EQUITY AUDIT OF THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT

This comes as last week Mayor Lamar Thorpe proclaimed:

“I will be calling a special meeting so that this council can set direction around an independent audit, internal affairs process, hiring and promotions audit and an equity audit for the police department,” stated Thorpe.  “I will be setting that for next Tuesday and we will give clear direction and probably vote on that so the public can know who is on the side of right and who is on the side of wrong. We will make that as public as possible.”

Based on the agenda and states by Thorpe, it is difficult to tell right from wrong on policy because there is no information or substance to make a determination if this council is headed in the right or wrong direction.

Antioch City Council Packet Sizes:

• Jan 10 – 300 pages
• Jan 13 – 215 pages (special meeting)
• Jan 24 – 1,179 pages
• Feb 14 – 689 pages
• Feb 23 – 23 pages (special meeting)
• Feb 28 – 144 pages
• March 14 – 289 pages
• March 17 – 3 pages (special meeting/closed session on City Manager Admin Leave)
• March 28 – 312 pages
• April 11 – 124 pages
• April 18 – 3 pages (special meeting)

Instead of focusing on optics and political theater for the 10 O’clock news, the council needs to get down to business and ensure it is done correctly and with complete transparency.

For starters, the agenda is vague and rather pointless for the public to offer much input because there is no thought process into what is even going to be discussed within each item. This is the equivalent of throwing spaghetti on the wall and seeing what sticks just as its a recipe for being so open ended its hard to even suggest someone to get off topic which should make public comments interesting.

Going through each agenda item, I have some questions which are both obvious questions and information that should have been provided to the public ahead of any discussion–you know, transparency and public education.

Internal Affairs Process

• What is the current number of officers on administrative leave? Go through that processes to educate the public on how that decision was made. Is this also a process/policy that works or is there holes in it?
• What is the process from start to finish?
• What IA is considered internal?
• What IA is considered external?
• Who has made the decisions in the past? Is it the Chief or a committee?
• How far back does the council want to go?
• What are the statue of limitations?
• Is this for fact finding?
• Is this for discipline?
• Deep dive into separations from the department.

Hiring and Promotional Practices

• What is the current policy and process?
• When was the current policy last updated?
• Has the hiring and promotional process ever been questioned?
• How does this compare to other agencies?
• Is this a training issue?
• Is this a police department issue or a human resource issue?
• Is there an issue with consultants?
• Are outside agencies included in the hiring/promotion process?
• How does one get demoted?

Equity Audit of the Antioch Police Department

• First lets define equity
• What is the goal and scope?

Within all three topics, what state laws govern each item of discussion which is another can of worms. Contrary to what we all may think, many laws and protections are on the books.  Ultimately, the city attorney better be on his game because he is going to have to guide this council on what they legally can and cannot do–especially during an active investigation so they do not hamper any investigation internally or externally.

Having said all this, starting the process does not hurt. It just should be more transparent which could have happened had this just be placed on the next official council meeting with all the supporting documents.

Contrary to what some claim, I am actually all for these audits and review of policy–I think it will be a great thing for everyone on all sides because it will show both the good, the bad, and bring to light the areas that need improvement. It will also help weed out the officers who should never have a badge again or potential new hires in the future.  When I support law enforcement, I want to support good cops doing good work. Not those who abuse the badge.

Unfortunately, the lack of substance in Tuesdays City Council agenda helps no one and is basically a false start–it is like the pre-meeting of a future meeting or series of meetings.

I hope after Tuesday, things become more clear of the direction the city is going because for things to get better in Antioch, it is not the will of the city council, but rather the community who buys into the direction the council sails the ship.

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Antioch City Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Time: 5:00 P.M. – Special Meeting
Place: Council Chambers
200 ‘H’ Street Antioch, CA 94509
Full Agenda – click here

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Mike Burkholder
Publisher of ContraCosta.news
burk@contracosta.news