On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved a contract to provide security at 9 parking lots in the downtown Antioch area.
The $150k contract will go through 2024-25 fiscal year with Shield Protection & Public Safety (Spearhead Protection) who will be asked to provide one unarmed security guard and be the eyes and ears of downtown Antioch from the hours of 5:00 pm to midnight at 9 identified locations.
The move comes after many local businesses in Downtown Antioch have been experiencing crime, vandalism and other criminal activities. In response, over the past 18-24 months, Rivertown/Downtown business owners and their customers have experienced an increase in criminal activities either on or near city-owned public parking lots.
In late 2022, a group of business owners began working with City staff on identifying viable solutions to improve the safety of the Rivertown/Downtown area. In addition to several of the businesses hiring their own private security, one proposed solution consisted of the City hiring a private security firm to monitor City-owned assets and parking lots. The security service provider would function as a visual deterrent and would have the ability to identify potential safety issues and report those issues to Antioch Police.
At the Dec. 13, 2022 council meeting, Antioch city council gave staff the direction to issue an RFQ for private security services. On September 22, 2023, eight private security companies submitted their qualifications for consideration. Staff has determined the best qualified company for this effort is Spearhead Protection
Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker questioned the number of city owned properties and if other areas also needed services outside the nine parcels. She also questioned if they are getting the security because they were louder than other businesses in other parts of the city.
Acting city manager Kwame Reed said this RFQ was only for the Rivertown area but they could increase the contract in the future.
Reed also explained to Torres-Walker that when this was first brought up two city managers ago it was only for the downtown area.
“If council wants us to look at other city owned assets outside the downtown we can,” states Reed.
Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock said she also wanted to discuss parking lots outside of the Rivertown area including Hillcrest and the Antioch Water Park.
“I don’t know why other city managers didn’t pass the information down but it was requested for all city assets and all the city parking lots. I am agreeing with Councilmember Torres-Walker,” said Ogorchock.
Mayor Lamar Thorpe said the contract can grow, it doesn’t have to preclude anyone.
“This did originate from downtown merchants expressing concerns and it was always the focus, especially after Monica’s opened,” stated Thorpe. “Their concern was they were just having folks hang out at their parking lot and creating concerns. It didn’t originate from the homeless, it was a concern of the patrons who were creating problems in the parking lots and doing donuts.”
Councilmember Mike Barbanica said he was in the meetings with the merchants when this was discussed.
“It was specifically everything north of 10th Street was the discussion and we can always add onto this later if we have other needs,” stated Barbanica. “But I sat in the meeting with the downtown merchants and this was specifically those groups asking for help in the downtown area. That is how this came about.”
Torres-Walker said she was in the same meetings noting business owners also have a duty to pony up the resources to secure their own properties—while the city has a responsibility to hire a city manager, police chief and rebuild the police department.
“Its not if we have a problem in other parts of the city, its that we do. Beyond the expanding of this contract, there has to be other strategies other than extending a contract with the resources we have now,” said Torres-Walker.
Barbanica said he would repeat details because it was horrific.
“In one of our parking lots, we had a horrific crime that occurred that should not have. I am not going to go into details out of respect to the victim of that crime, but that sold me on this and how can we ask, if we want to build up our downtown area, this is a starting place. How can we ask residents to come down and frequent our downtown area when they don’t feel safe. I just feel this is a starting place to make that happen,” stated Barbanica.
After the motion was made by Barbanica and seconded by Torres-Walker, Ogorchock requested they add in other city assets to the contract and bring this back, she also wanted staff to answer questions by a public speaker on what services they are actually getting and the authority level of the security guards.
“Are they carrying guns or are they calling the police,” asked Ogorchock.
Reed explained the city is not paying for armed security and they would be reporting to police.
“They are basically going to be additional eyes in the city when something arises and hopefully they will be there to deter some activity that happens when people walk from a restaurant to their car or things like that. Its just to provide extra eyes and security in the downtown during those early hours of the night,” explained Reed.
Thorpe asked if there was an option for them to be armed.
Reed stated there was an option but the city was looking at security that was not armed.
Ogorchock said she was not asking for armed security, but would hate to see a security guard sitting in the parking lot all night and that was it.
Reed said under the contract, they are supposed to patrol 9 parking lots during the time.
The council then voted 5-0 to approve the contract.
Editors Notes:
- While the city is hiring 1 security guard for 9 lots… what the city did not say is other businesses will be hiring their own security which could provide 3-4 total security guards in the downtown area in the evening hours–IE new cannabis business.
- The city originally issued an RFQ on January 25, 2023 with a due date of February 8, 2023 under former city manager Cornelius Johnson, but it appears they did not award the contract.
- The city did not include who the 8-firms were that submitted for the RFQ or what their bids were. The firms responses was also not included in the staff report.
Previous Stories:
- Jan 9 – Antioch Looks to Award Contract for Private Security Downtown
- Dec 12, 2023 – City of Antioch to Look at Private Security for Downtown Area
- Dec 2, 2023 – Antioch Councilmember Proposes Paid Parking at Antioch Marina
- Aug 15, 2023 – License Plate Readers Coming to Downtown Antioch
12 comments
Sounds like a neighborhood watch program except they only work certain hours and get paid. Let’s add Civil code enforcement and Code enforcement with just radio’s and a citation book along with Antioch’s trash team. SOB that’s alot of cash for a society that cannot police itself. How about some real Police being hired?
More wasted resources. Think the bad actors won’t figure out when they won’t be “watched?” Does the council think the few police on duty will be called off priority service when watch security reports suspicious behavior when there aren’t enough officers to service the city at any time. Seems some folks are just trying to garner votes for doing too little too late.
Transparency, thy name is definitely not Antioch.
Fifteen years ago a tour of Pittsburg police departments camera array facility was done with the assistant city manager. It was awesome to say the least. When presented to the powers at the time the response was, we don’t need it, it’s to expensive, we don’t have the room, there’s no one to staff it, a plethora of excuses. There was room, there was federal grants. It’s the same thing that’s plagued this city for years, lack of leadership or a willingness to get out in front of issues. This city has seldom been proactive, look how long this has taken. Our mayor knew Antioch had issues with crime and homelessness when he did his little media thing when Antioch lost Amtrak. Anyone remember that? So, highering a security firm is long overdue and a necessary FIRST STEP. However, what is going to happen when they notify PD there’s an issue? Is it going to be added to the que and responded to when an officer is available? Will it be responded to at all? Fact is folks, we need police officers too. And our police need to be given the authority to respond to complaints such as vagrancy when they arise, not call in a crisis team. Sorry, this taxpayer is sceptical of anything government puts a bandaid on to address problems.
Foos, He would rather raise our taxes instead of using grants for affordable housing. And continues promoting dispensaries and raise taxes. For someone who claims to be for the little guy/girl… Wouldn’t that kind of person be trying to get housing for the less fortunate? We still have some parcels throughout the city that could be turned into affordable housing. WTH are they gonna do with the shopping center on Delta Fair Blvd between Buchanan and San Jose Dr. The building is actually looking worse than an 👁 sore… from east bound hwy4 you can see the signage for this shopping center with Fallas and Blockbuster Video… ya’ll I do believe Blockbuster Video has been gone for close to 20 + if not longer. The first impression for new people coming into Antioch is an old shopping center sign. It’s quite embarrassing.
FOOS You are spot on. Over the years have talked with long time business owners and was amazed to repeatedly hear of unbridled arrogance shown by city. Have spoken with a few owners who moved their businesses out of Antioch and they relate how much better off they are now. Average number of business burglaries seems to hover around ten per week. How long before insurance companies drastically raise rates or flat refuse to write policies? City has a long way to climb out of hole it has dug to reach reactive. City needs a good cleaning out from council on down.
Thus is ridiculous. I live in an HOA we had this same security company. They had contracts with other locations. They were supposed to patrol our property. Oh yeah they patrolled alright. They drove by the complex on Buchanan, did they drive through the actual complex nope not usually. Every once in a while the security guard would actually get out the patrol car and walk the neighborhood. But he was only one guy. I hate to tell you but this is just another program the city is paying into that frankly doesn’t sound like it will be successful.
1. It’s public knowledge that they’ll be working 5pm to midnight.
2. One person to cover 9 parking lots. So these trouble makers will just have a lookout keeping an eye on him.
3. Someone gets mugged leaving Monica’s but the single security guard is driving in the Smiths Landing. How does that work? In the effectiveness of prevention and assistance?
4. Oh and the security guy(s) that were at our complex although they are supposed to patrol everyday I found out that they were on a random schedule so that the bad guys didn’t know when they were on duty/patrol.
5. I believe this program is setting ourselves up for yet another failure.
6. What about the shopping centers on Somersville & Delta Fair Blvd? The mayor was on the news and said he was going to speaking about the issues at the old Food Maxx building. There are businesses directly affected by the building being red tagged and fenced off. Mayor Thorpe and Monica Wilson want the liquor stores gone as well as smoke shops. This issue has effectively shut down the liquor store and the check cashing business. With no end date. Is that liquor store owner going to be able to open elsewhere? Because the mayor has a mortitorium against any more liquor stores opening. But he has no issue about opening another pot club/dispenserary. I dunno ya’ll but this doesn’t sound good.
How bout we hire more police officers….
Yes please!!!
Interesting that crime doesnt happen downtown Antioch from 12:01am – 4:59pm. Lamar making Antioch better by the day.
That was my thought too because security quits patrolling at midnight. They need 24/7 experienced and armed security officers.
I know right.
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