The following was submitted by former Antioch Mayor Wade Harper in response to comments made at Tuesdays city Council meeting.
Allen Payton contacted me and asked if I had a response to the current mayor called the previous city councils “murders.” I did not watch the city council meeting. I have since read the quote.
There is a professional courtesy, that Former Mayor’s extend to the current mayor. We realize that the current mayor has the mandated responsibility to make decisions for the city, along with his or her city Council. I may privately disagree with certain decisions, but typically I avoid public criticism, because I understand that each administration faces unique challenges, and they must act according to their own judgment. I refrain from publicly criticizing the current administration. I think my stand of unity and support could be more beneficial to the cities over role well-being rather than constantly criticizing everything this City Council does.
When the current mayor was elected, I called him on election night and congratulated him. We shared a private laugh. I also offered that he could call upon me if he needed to. I could offer advice from what I learned from the challenges that I experienced.
- Advice #1 Lead with excellence and integrity and be the leader that you want to see.
- Advice #2 Don’t pass the buck – take accountability for what happens on your watch. It is easy to blame previous administrations. What I learned about blame is that there is always plenty to go around.
- Advice #3 Show love to your community as well as your colleagues on the city council. And give a listening ear.
Like most Antioch residents, I am certainly saddened and angered by the acts and racist texts committed by certain police officers (not all officers). I am not always happy with this current city council. I understand that they have a tough job, navigating these uncharted waters of overt, racial discrimination, and criminal insensitivity.
Now as far as the bashing of previous city councils, let me say this.
To say that previous city councils have committed “murder” because of lack of police oversight is irresponsible. This is a very harsh and mean-spirit statement toward your former colleagues who led with integrity and excellence. Do not lead with anger, vendetta, and vitriol.
“ Residents like you have allowed the council to get away with murder, absolute murder, because of a lack of oversight,“ – mayor Lamar Thorpe to Hernandez, the main opponent of the change.
The Antioch city council has decided to grant themselves the authority to hire and fire the police chief. Now that you have made that decision, consider attending a Citizen’s Academy to learn more about the law enforcement profession so you can lead effectively. You will learn what the word “murder” truly means and how families and lives are impacted by such a tragic crime. Antioch is hurting right now, and we need leaders who will lead. Return the hiring authority back to the city manager ASAP so that you won’t be tempted to put politics into the profession. I am proud to have served the city of Antioch as mayor, alongside very fine city councils, city managers and police chiefs.
I maintained open communication with the police chief and received regular reports on crime as well as plans on making the community safer. Yes, we also addressed personnel matters in closed sessions a few times. So, the current mayor should not blame past city councils for the unique problems and issues that this current city council now faces.
So, for the record, all past city councils, including myself, have made mistakes. But I am not aware of any City Council‘s on which I have served committing any acts of murder. Additional I am not aware of any of my fellow city council members committing acts of arson, burglary, nor being arrested or cited for DUI – driving under the influence (with Blood Alcohol Levels of .121% and .124%) or allegedly sexually harassing any women resulting in any settlements with the county for $350,000 or in a fit of rage challenging any community members to step outside to fight.
Wade Harper
Former Mayor of Antioch
previous posts by Harper
May 19, 2023 – Wade Harper: We are All One Blood
8 comments
Right on! Love that Wade states facts. And at the end, more facts. This council can’t lead itself out of a brown paper sack (it shows) yet they want to take control over the hiring/firing of the police the chief. Antioch is in trouble and their response is to continue to make things worse with asinine policies.
We miss you Wade! Great statement!
Hell no we do not miss this guy. Smh.
Thorpe is an absolute clown! Never have I ever seen a dysfunctional city council like the one currently in office. This is such a joke. Someone needs to step up and hold this council accountable. No matter the cost, a recall effort is mote than justifiable.
This is how you professionally check someone and throw shade with class. Haha!
Clearly Thorpe did not take the advice. He’s failed at all 3. And while he’s pointing fingers at past council, he is pointing that finger right back at himself and Wilson. They were part of those councils AND Thorpe and Wilson both were very aware of what was going on with APD. Ralph Hernandez called them out on it in the council meeting they had right after the txt msgs were released. He stated Thorpe n Wilson were both in a meeting with him (Hernandez) regarding APD killing a man in his vehicle. They both knew of the murder (Thorpe called Wilson and included her in the meeting), they did not want the other board members to know and literally swept it under the rug and they openly admitted to sweeping it under the rug in that city council meeting and it is on record. You can watch it, it is there for everyone to see and hear but for some reason they aren’t being held accountable for that (have seen nothing about it on the news or noted in any articles) and are now trying to pass themselves off as Trail Blazers in police reform. BS. It wasn’t an issue till it effected Thorpe personally when he wanted extra patrols for his home because his daughter was home alone during his council meetings and the cop patrolling was part of the txt scandal. This all came out of Thorpe’s mouth directly and is forever on record. AND, they were also part of council that delayed approving police body cams for years n years. They do not care about the city, the citizens or anything other than their own political careers, period. Politicians politicking. Deflection, manipulation and hypocrisy at its finest.
Joel,Keller also a former Mayor of Antioch before Wade Harper, cheated Antioch out of regular BART and stuck Antioch with e-BART instead of regular BART Stations, parking lots and trains.
Thank you MEV for your comments about BART to Antioch, although I do not understand the relevance of posting comments about transit to a story about the Antioch Police Department. But since you brought it up, BART to Antioch opened on May 26, 2018 and served the one-millionth rider 6 months later on October 31, 2018. These riders and the millions more who have followed, have benefitted from the rail extension to Antioch.
I presume your post, although you failed to say so, were about my comments that were part of the same story as Former Mayor Harper. Like Wade, I was contacted about my reaction to Mayor Thorpe’s comments at a recent City Council meeting. Here is what I said,
“You’re right. APD was a different department in the past. It might be helpful if someone unemotionally explained how the change occurred. The accused officers are assumed innocent until proven guilty, but the breath of the allegations suggest a breakdown of leadership. I don’t mean political leadership, but rather management. Let’s start with who approved the President of the APOA being responsible for disciplinary investigations. My mother who only had a primary education would say that’s like ‘putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.’ I don’t know who is responsible, but an action like that violates Human Resources best practices and any peace officer with administrative responsibilities would have been taught that when they were promoted to manager.
APD needs to change and needs responsible leadership. Mayor Thorpe may not be the best spokesperson for change, but he is right about the need for reform. I was a peace officer for 35 years and the Mayor of Antioch for 10. I am embarrassed by the almost daily revelations about alleged wrongdoing. (Really, tequila to fix tickets?)
Someone, maybe the Antioch Herald, needs to get past the name calling and investigate what changed at APD that enabled this despicable conduct to not only exist, but flourish.”
While I respect your right to respond the way you did, please help me understand how your comments address the need to improve public safety in Antioch.
Let us try and be real here. Wade Harper was an absolutely terrible Mayor. The guy was never seen during his term. Most residents in Antioch didn’t even know who the mayor was, because he was perpetually absent from everything. It was clear to me that he was never committed to the job. With that said, we have never seen a failed leadership like we have with Thorpe. Besides being a criminal himself, he is also a sexual harasser of multiple women. He’s insecure and refuses to take responsibility for anything. Thorpe has enabled Antioch to become the cesspool that it now is. In other words, we’ve had plenty of failed leaders.
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