On Sunday, Antioch City Councilmember Mike Barbanica requested the City of Antioch begin looking to the California Highway Patrol and Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office to assist the Antioch Police Department.
The call for action was in response to weekend sideshows that damaged a water main, a hydrant, a parked car and sent a vehicle into the delta waters. Sideshows have been nearly a weekly occurrence within the city. There have also been 259 known vehicle thefts in the city of Antioch since May 28.
He said Sunday’s activity highlights they do not have enough officers to respond to incident and its causing major damage to the city–Antioch Police said Sunday one of the drivers arrested overnight had a no bail warrant out of Santa Clara County for sideshow activity.
Barbanica said Sunday he requested in writing that acting city manager Kwame Reed to reach to both CHP and the sheriff for different police needs and responsibilities to supplement Antioch Police until staffing levels are adequate–saying CHP for traffic control and sheriff to back-fill patrol. At this point, its to begin the process to see if its feasible.
He says now more than ever even after he made the public request, he wants and Antioch Police Department to present a detailed staffing level report by department from patrol to investigations so the council can see the impacts.
“For the past 4-5 months, I kept weekly tabs on staffing levels and have been assured staffing levels were adequate, but many within the inside of the police department have expressed concerns with staffing levels. I confirmed the staffing levels for patrol is 31 with a 7-beat system and the math is not adding up,” explained Barbanica. “As someone who did scheduling for the Pittsburg Police Department, I know what adequate staffing looks like and my concerns were realized and we need immediate outside help.”
He said the council as a whole will decide the direction but they had to begin working on a staffing plan utilizing outside agencies for immediate assistance until they can hire more officers.
As for the weekend sideshows and the damages caused, he said it occurred just days after a major meeting with the city manager, city engineer, the Antioch Police Department, the owner of Smiths Landing, five members of the community and the response to sideshows downtown due to the impact it was having on residents and businesses. Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker also participated in the meeting.
“The marina parking lot has become an area where sideshows are occurring,” said Barbanica. “It’s effecting their business and people wanting to come patronize the restaurant.”
At the meeting, Barbanica says the group put together a focus plan to resolve the downtown sideshows which then the weekend sideshows occur. The plan includes an option of in the marina of bringing in some raised delineators but rubberized raised pieces within the marina. They are now looking at the cost and how quickly they can be installed. Police are also looking at increased enforcement.
He then highlighted he met with Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston on another issue, however, the Antioch Police Staffing level came up and he asked him if needed, would they help Antioch on a temporary basis to back-fill.
“The sheriff said he would be able to do that, but the city would first need to start the process to talk about what it would be look like and the cost,” said Barbanica. “I am also interested in the city reaching out to the California Highway Patrol to bring them into the community to back-fill traffic. We have no traffic department right now. We need enforcement of traffic laws.”
Barbanica pointed out no deal was made, only that it would be looked at to see if it made sense. He is now seeking support from the rest of the council in having the city manager reach out to the CHP and sheriff to assist in temporary staffing to see what it could look like and how it would look.
“This is not a knock on the men and woman in the Antioch Police Department, we just don’t have enough and our officers are getting beat up, worn down and we need to give our officers some assistance in the form of more law enforcement help,” said Barbanica. “Just do the math, we are down to 31-officers over three shifts, 7-days a week. Its ridiculous.”
Sheriff Livingston confirmed the conversation occurred and that he would be willing to discuss temporary assistance.
“Councilmember Barbanica raised his concerns about public safety and the current staffing challenges. I told him I would of course be willing to discuss ways in which the Sheriff’s Office might temporarily assist if contacted by the Acting Chief of Police, the City Manager or the full council. So far, no requests have been made, formally or informally,” said Livingston. “Only Councilmember Barbanica has discussed this with me.”
Barbanica said depending on how the CHP and Sheriffs Office respond to possibly working with Antioch, if it doesn’t work out, he would request the council consider a State of Emergency similar to what the City of Vallejo just did.
Editors Note:
On July 17, Barbanica requested police department to give a public presentation on police staffing in all departments and how they are communicating information through PIO and the press. It was no more than 48-hours later, Chief Steve Ford announced retirement. For months, Ford had stated staffing levels were adequate and they could handle the call volumes.
Previous Stories on sideshows:
- July 5, 2023: Hundreds Gather for Fourth of July Sideshow in Antioch
- May 12, 2023: Pico Rivera Passes Street Takeover Ordinance Allowing for Permanent Seizure of Cars
- Sept. 23, 2022: Bill to Crack Down on Street Racing and Illegal Sideshows Signed by Governor
- May 16, 2022: Antioch Mayor Says Council Will Take Up Policy to Target Sideshow Spectators
- May 15, 2022: Antioch Police Respond to Two Sideshows, Officers Vehicles Attacked
- May 3, 2022: Pittsburg City Council Agrees to Fine Sideshow and Street Racing Spectators
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