On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will consider appointments to its Antioch Police Department oversight commission.
The council will consider a total of 7 appointments which include two commission members for 1-year terms (expiring in November 2024) and two commission members for 2-year terms (expiring in November 2025) and three commission members for 3-year terms (expiring in November 2026).
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe is making the following recommendations for the city council to approve:
1-Year Term
- Alicia Dianne Lacey-Oha (District 1)
- Devin Williams (District 4)
2-Year Term
- Porshe Taylor (District 4)
- Leslie May (District 1)
3-Year Term
- Mahogany Spears (District 1)
- Treva Hadden (District 3)
- Harry Thurston (District 4)
*District 2 does not have any representation on the commission, resumes and applications are included in the staff report
Staff Report:
On May 24, 2022, the Antioch City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2212-C-S that created the Police Commission. The purpose of the Police Commission is as follows:
- The Police Commission is to strengthen trust, transparency, accountability, and police-community relations in the City of Antioch by ensuring that the Antioch Police Department’s policies, practices, and customs meet or exceed national standards of constitutional policing.
- The Police Commission shall advise the City Council, City Manager, and Chief of Police on the administration of the Antioch Police Department and on policy matters concerning public safety within the City of Antioch. The Police Commission shall facilitate community participation and oversight by reviewing and recommending policies, procedures, practices, and programs designed to result in community policing that is effective, responsive, and sensitive to the diverse needs of the residents of the City.
- The Police Commission shall promote and encourage open communication and cooperation between the Antioch Police Department and residents of the City, recognizing that policing the City of Antioch is a shared responsibility.
- The Police Commission shall develop, review, and make policy recommendations aimed at informing the community of its rights and responsibilities when interacting with police officer
Back in March 2022, the City Council approved the following ordinance in a 3-1 vote with Barbanica dissenting. Ogorchock was absent.:
ANTIOCH POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION
The purpose of the Antioch Police Oversight Commission is to strengthen trust, transparency, accountability, and police-community relations in the City of Antioch by ensuring that the Antioch Police Department’s policies, practices, and customs meet or exceed national standards of constitutional policing.
The Police Commission shall advise the City Council, City Manager, and Chief of Police on the administration of the Antioch Police Department and on policy matters concerning public safety within the City of Antioch. The Police Commission shall facilitate community participation and oversight by reviewing and recommending policies, procedures, practices, and programs designed to result in community policing that is effective, responsive, and sensitive to the diverse needs of the residents of the City.
The Police Commission shall promote and encourage open communication and cooperation between the Antioch Police Department and residents of the City, recognizing that policing the City of Antioch is a shared responsibility. The Police Commission shall develop, review, and make policy recommendations aimed at informing the community of its rights and responsibilities when interacting with police officers (full agenda)
At the meeting, the commission was shared to the public that it would be “advisory” in nature.
“This is an advisory commission and it’s the same power we have already,” said Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe. “Everything we have here we have the power to do. Now we are asking for a different entity to do it in a different capacity… it would then have to be codified by city council. We are not trying to be tricky.”
Antioch city Attorney Thomas Smith confirmed the mayors comments and cited government code.
Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker called this a body that will not only be a group that can help create policy, but also educate the community and build relationships with the police department.
“I want to just highlight this is not just merely symbolic,” said Torres-Walker. “It’s an amazing process to sit at the table and get to form public policy. Especially policies, practices and procedures that could cause someone their life.”
Torres-Walker continued stating that if they had a civilian oversight commission, that those who died at the hands of the Antioch Police Department would still be here today—stating she believed
“I would like to believe that if we had a civilian oversight that Kathryne Wade’s son Malad Baldwin would still be here today. Angelo Quinto would still be here today and that Rakeem Rucks would still be here today,” stated Torres-Walker. “There are countless others who lives may not have been impacted so negatively by institutions.”
Councilwoman Monica Wilson said this commission was going to allow the community to have a voice and give input in an advisory role.
“It’s not a group that is just going to hate on the police, its coming in and giving their opinion on the oversight,” said Wilson. “It may even be giving accolades to the police or saying maybe we recommend some improvement. Ultimately, I believe its going to be something that uplifts and empowers.”
Wilson stated she was very much in favor of this police oversight committee.
Antioch City Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
- 5:00 P.M. Special Meeting/Work Session
- 6:00 P.M. Closed Session
- 7:00 P.M. Regular Meeting
200 H Street, Antioch CA
Agenda – click here
14 comments
You would think ContraCosta.news would highlight how biased these 7 individuals are against police. Just watch their public comments at council meetings.
Yes, Leslie D. May, a Trauma Therapist, Human Trafficking Therapist and Contra Costa County Mental Health Commissioner, is one of them. She is a big supporter of his. I’ve seen social media and public comments defending him.
This guy had some nerve. Mr. transparency himself (not). We don’t need police oversight. We NEED police. His mindset and his followers is unbelievable. Thorpe has a chip on his shoulder and is all about appearances, pandering to the few folks left that will vote for him. Please relieve him of his assumptions and vote him OUT! Antioch has had more than enough of him and the consequences of his embarrassing, nonsense positions and policies.
And what experience in police work do any of these members of the community have? Might want to make that question number 1. Will they be going through a police academy to better understand just how police operate? Given the fact most cities in the state are reversing course on a lot of this, maybe Antioch should do the same.
The only qualification needed is that they think like Thorpe. The mere fact that he’s making the recommendations speaks volumes. He probably plucked them out of one of the many protests he’s joined in against the police.
you get what you deserve Antioch.
Agreed! The right thing to do is announce it to the public so a diverse group of people can apply. The November elections can’t come soon enough.
Is someone trying to get out in front of a U.S. Department of Justice consent decree?
How is it those in charge of running Antioch did not have checks and balances in place for years to ensure “trust, transparency, accountability”?
Instead city ends up with major FUBAR.
Where was enforcement of professional standards and common sense?
Voters need to elect people who will CLEAN HOUSE at all levels of the city.
This commission will have no bearing with that the police department will be doing . 2024 Thorpe will be gone and nobody will care or listen to what these people think. Antioch don’t worry Defunders had their chance and it all failed.
Yes, this is typical Thorpe behavior – name cronies for the commission. “The Police Commission shall advise the City Council, City Manager, and Chief of Police” says the council’s measure. How ironic that thanks to this council, there currently IS no city manager or chief of police (or many other staff positions that are going vacant). No competent candidates want to work there.
When did he change his last name to Hernandez-Thorpe?
Who are these people that he has put up for this kangaroo court shenanigans?
WHEN WILL WE HAVE A FULLY STAFFED POLICE FORCE?
Alicia Dianne Lacey-Oha, lives in Antioch, CA
Devin Williams, appears to live in Antioch, CA
Porshe Taylor lives in Brentwood – so why, exactly, is she on this ANTIOCH POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION?
Leslie May – nothing on this person whatsoever, but there is a Leslie D. May who lives in El Sobrante, and USED TO live in Antioch…
Mahogany Spears appears to actually live in Antioch, CA
Treva Hadden appears to live in Antioch, CA
Harry Thurston also appears to live in Antioch, CA
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? Well, the meeting is starting, so I guess we will just watch Lamar’s Circus…
I see this as a Thorpe last ditch effort to put something out there that he can leverage for the November elections — after all, only an idiot would not see the tea leaves glowing and pronouncing he will be voted out in November. Oh yes, Thorpe knows his head is on the chopping block in November 2024.
You all live in an echo chamber with no one but yourselves to talk to. The moderators of the page are keeping information from you all.. This page is a disservice to a healthy community… The page moderators are Losers, yes capital L
Riiiiight.
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