On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council failed to move forward with a policy which would have given them the authority to oversee the police chief.
Under the proposed ordinance, it would have transferred the authority over the Antioch Police Chief from the city manager to the council, allowing them to make the decisions on hiring and firing.
The council had discussed the idea of transferring power from the city manager to the city council in 2021 while at the October 26, 2021 meeting at the Police Oversight Committee it was directed a policy be created. Back in April 2023, the council moved forward with drafting a policy and in August voted to approve a policy.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Torres-Walker telegraphed her actions with a social media via saying the policy would not have her support without her proposed “compromise” which was a time period of 12-months or the hiring of a permanent city manager—meaning the power would revert back to the city manager in a “trigger event”.
On Tuesday, Torres-Walker explained her proposal.
“I still want to go back to the compromise I proposed at the last council meeting,” said Torres-Walker. “I offered the compromise because most of us work full time, we also want to have a close eye, a transparent process for hiring a new chief, but I do not think this policy should be the order of the day. I do think new need to have a term to time this policy out, whether its 12-months or on the hire of a permanent city manager, I just believe we need to do that. That is the compromise I am offering today or else I will not be voting to move forward with this ordinance.”
Torres-Walker then credited former councilmember Ralph Hernandez for speaking during public comments and highlighting why they need policies such as this—cover ups in the police department, complaints being ignored, mismanagement of the public trust, idea that you can’t hold them accountable while putting community at risk, seven years of no evaluations of the behavior, training or qualifications of officers, a lot of offers received promotions without evaluations and larger paychecks in the process. While some left with a pension and retirement.
“I really want to move forward with this tonight but would hope my colleagues on the council would accept my compromise,” said Torres-Walker.
Mayor Lamar Thorpe would not budge away from his position.
“I am sticking to the original proposal. My values say that having a policy that extends to the permanent city manager being hired, it’s not a policy because then there will never be over site,” stated Thorpe. “The purpose of this was move towards transparency and accountability. I can’t personally support your policy. Then it just won’t pass.”
Torres-Walker replied, “Then it won’t pass and we will just move on.”
“Yup,” replied Thorpe.
Councilmember Monica Wilson said she was interested in the time limit and called it an interesting topic and while thinking more about it she was in agreement and the council could always extend that time limit.
Torres-Walker then made the motion for her compromise which she said would “die” and then someone could make the motion for the original ordinance which that could also “die” and the council could move on.
“Being reasonable is what I am asking for,” said Torres-Walker who made the motion to include a time limit upon 12-months or the hiring of the permanent city manager which was seconded by Wilson.
The motion died with Thorpe and councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock voting against.
If Torres-Walker motion was approved, it would have been brought back and voted on again and would not kick-in for 90-days. It would have given the council control over the police chief through December 2024.
Note – at the August meeting, councilmembers Barbanica and Ogorchock were against the policy and voted “no”.
Previous Stories
- Sept. 12 – Antioch City Council May Not Get Control Over Police Chief Afterall
- Aug 22, 2023 – Antioch City Council Votes to Hire and Fire Police Chief
- Aug 18, 2023 – Antioch City Council Set to Seek Control Over Police Chief Position
- June 30, 2023: Antioch City Manager Cornelius Johnson Resigns
- June 23, 2023: Kwame Reed Named Acting Antioch City Manager
- June 14, 2023: Acting Antioch City Manager Puts in Notice
- April 7, 2023: Antioch City Council Seeks Power to Hire Fire Police Chief
- Feb 17, 2023: Antioch Assistant City Manager Could Be Headed to Piedmont
10 comments
King Thorpe feels that he deserves to have total control over everything and everybody and if you’re not with the program, he’ll take his marbles and go home. Well…bye!
Nice to see someone stand-up to Fake King Thorpe! The compromise proposed is the only way we, the people of Antioch, could ever tolerate Fake King Thorpe’s rule over the chief of police since it is limited with a triggering event. If Fake King Thorpe doesn’t like that — TOO BAD — FULL STOP!
A hat during a meeting. How unprofessional
I’ve always said, Thorpe is the Black Version of Donald Trump. He’s a narcissist ego maniac that wants everyone to bow down to him as if he was a King. He is insecure and argumentative with anyone that doesn’t bend to his demands. And adult child just like Trump.
The article makes no mention of the other vote on the Second Reading of the Ordinance that was on the Consent Calendar. I presume it failed on a 2-3 vote.
Tamisha has a bigger sack then them all combined.
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Barbanica is a fool & a sell out.
Kudos to Torres-Walker for standing her ground. Not a fan of hers but she really has shown true leadership by working with BBQnica and Lori.
Voters hopefully have learned from their grievous mistake and come next election will elect council members capable providing adult supervision of Police and more importantly city staff.
Was Thorpe’s hat of significance? Wondering if it said something on it, or what purpose he had for wearing it with a suit. Just felt like wearing a hat to a meeting? Bad haircut? Was his tin foil crown hidden underneath?
Monica is more frightening to me than Thorpe because she doesn’t stand for anything and will vote in whatever direction the wind blows. We need representatives who are balanced thinkers with backbones who will work on behalf of Antioch citizens. Not those who are only there to advance an agenda or seeking higher political office.
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