Supervisor Federal D. Glover Issues Open Letter Regarding Antioch Police

The following Open Letter was issued Wednesday by Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover regarding the Antioch Police Department and encourages a broader investigation.

May 2, 2023

Antioch Police Department: An Open Letter to:

Contra Costa County District Attorney
State of California Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
Members of the Congressional Delegation
Residents of Contra Costa County

Greetings:

I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of serving the residents of Contra Costa County’s District 5 as their elected county supervisor since the year 2000. My more than two decades in office have provided me ample opportunity to work with county departments, city agencies, special districts, and members of the public to achieve the best outcomes for my constituents. I have worked closely with the Office of the Sheriff as well as several police departments in our county to bolster public safety and create a sense of well being among members of the public. I have always valued the services of our law enforcement partners and was never among the voices that called for their dissolution.

It was shocking and profoundly disheartening to hear recent reports of activities in the Antioch Police Department. While as a county supervisor I am terribly offended, as an African American, I am utterly disgusted. Just imagine, the very public safety officials entrusted with my protection and relied upon to enforce the law without prejudice, without partiality, and without bias, were/are the ones who publicly and blatantly spurned my entire race, devalued several minority racial/ethnic groups, and even advocated breaking the law to bring harm to the elected mayor. There is something chilling about the atrocities inherent in the language and behavior of these disgraceful officers.

It is no wonder, as these horrifying words and behaviors by some Antioch Police Officers come to light, that many communities have not and will not trust police officers. And further, it begs the question, what other atrocities have these shameless individuals perpetrated against members of the public? How many times, given the notable absence of body cameras among their ranks, have they assaulted suspects, intimidated citizens, or even planted evidence? Perhaps we will never know.

If we are to restore a measure of confidence in the Antioch Police Department, and by extension confidence in the law enforcement community in general, action must purposive and immediate. The longer we allow this to fester, the greater the damage to our community.

Therefore, I join other voices in calling upon the State of California, Office of the Attorney General, to launch a broader investigation of the policies and practices of the Antioch Police Department. Further, I support the efforts of the Contra Costa County District Attorney in fully continuing the close scrutiny of these disgraceful officers and urge the District Attorney to bring charges where there has been violation of the law.

There have been cases where the US Department of Justice has been called upon to explore police practices that threaten the civil rights of citizens. Perhaps it is time that the US Department of Justice look at the Antioch Police Department.

We must never return to the rogue practices of law enforcement as it relates to people of color that were prevalent during the Jim Crow era. We must hold them accountable and relieve these officers who are engaged in racist behavior of their badges.

Finally, I call upon all good citizens to reject the racist practices of these officers and demand accountability.

Sincerely,

Federal D. Glover, District 5 Supervisor
Vice-Chair, Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County

Previous Stories:

• To Read the 14-pages of text Messages: Click Here
• To read the 21-pages of text messages: Click Here

• May 10: Civil Rights Investigation Launched into Antioch Police Department
• April 21: Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Antioch Police After Racist Texts and Targeting
• April 21: Antioch Police Union Attorney Issues Statement on Text Messages
• April 19: Antioch City Council Agrees to Move Forward With Police Audits
• April 17: Second DA Report Leaked Includes Antioch Police Text Messages
• April 13: Contra Costa DA Releases Antioch Police Text Messages
• April 13: Antioch Police Chief Statement on Inappropriate Text Messages
• April 9:  Mayor Calls For Audit After Antioch Officers Sent Racists Text
• April 7: Becton Issues Statement on Disclosure of Racist Texts in Felony Case
• March 31: Antioch POA and Attorney Mike Rains Respond to Antioch Mayor
• March 30: Antioch Police Chief Issues Open Letter to Community
• March 30: Antioch Mayor Holds Press Conference on New Police Investigation