On Friday, Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington provided updated data on police staffing levels in the City of Antioch.
According to Addington, the data was as of Friday, March 8, 2024:
The Police Department is authorized for 115 sworn officers and currently has 85 officers. Of these, 30 officers are on various forms of leave—leaving the department with just 55 active sworn personnel.
As for patrol, out of the 55 officers on active duty, 38 are assigned to patrol. This figure excludes police lieutenants but includes four officers still in training.
Addington added that Antioch has four police trainees set to graduate from the academy in May, two in June, another four who will begin their academy training in April, and six more to start in July.
Discipline Handed Out?
Although neither the City of Antioch nor Chief Addington could comment nor would verify officer discipline related to the FBI and District Attorney investigation regarding text messages, discipline has been handed out according to several sources as the city hits the 1-year mark in the investigation.
Over the past few weeks, this includes:
- Termination of officers (start of the process)
- At least one officer returned to work
- Several demotions
- Suspensions
“Due to California law, I’m restricted from discussing specific personnel matters. I understand the public’s interest in the text message scandal and the need for transparency from the police department. We are committed to being as open as possible while adhering to legal constraints. The City plans to issue a public statement once we have a resolution,” said Addington.
Officers on the move?
Through multiple sources and channels, it appears at least three officers are in the process of finding other jobs and looking to leave Antioch Police.
Photo by CHP
CHP or Contra Costa County Sheriff to Assist Antioch?
Its still on the table, but nothing firm or known if its being pushed.
In February, Governor Newsom’s increased deployment of state law enforcement in Oakland and the East Bay — including a temporary surge of 120 officers — has resulted in the arrest of 71 suspects, the recovery of 145 stolen vehicles, and the seizure of four crime-linked firearms.
Back in August of 2023, Antioch Councilmember Mike Barbanica called for help from both the CHP and Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office. In September, however, during the Council meeting, no action was taken. Meanwhile, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe used that meeting as to accuse “bloggers and Facebook warriors” of using the data inaccurately or say there is an increase or rise in crime in the city of Antioch which he called “inaccurate”. He said there was misinformation people was using as weapons against the council and overall in the city of Antioch–ultimately, crime in 2023 was and is “up”.
City of Antioch Sees Increase in Crime in 2023
Note – due to staffing levels and under-reporting of crimes, the numbers are likely higher.
The Antioch Police Department has updated its crime data for 2023 where they saw an increase in total offenses by 1,127.
With a police force that is understaffed, the city saw 131 additional burglaries, 166 additional larcenies, 45 more robberies, 399 more vandalism, 595 more vehicle thefts and 48 more weapon violations in 2023 when compared to 2022.
Here is a look at the crime data as provided on the city of Antioch website.
| 2022 | 2023 | +/- | |
| Murder | 9 | 10 | +1 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| Justifiable Homicide | 4 | 1 | -3 |
| Rape | 43 | 33 | -10 |
| Robbery | 166 | 211 | +45 |
| Aggravated Assault | 513 | 436 | -77 |
| Burglary | 428 | 559 | +131 |
| Larceny | 1480 | 1646 | +166 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 650 | 1245 | +595 |
| Arson | 16 | 8 | -2 |
| Simple Assault | 944 | 1029 | +85 |
| Intimidation | 77 | 55 | -22 |
| Bribery | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| Counterfeiting/Forgery | 21 | 9 | -12 |
| Vandalism | 673 | 1,072 | +399 |
| Drug/Narcotic | 78 | 61 | -17 |
| Drug Equipment | 21 | 24 | +3 |
| Embezzlement | 7 | 17 | +10 |
| Extortion/Blackmail | 1 | 5 | +4 |
| Fraud | 587 | 428 | -159 |
| Gambling | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| Kidnapping | 36 | 24 | -12 |
| Pornography | 6 | 8 | +2 |
| Prostitution | 1 | 1 | – |
| Sodomy | 6 | 10 | +4 |
| Sexual Assault w/object | 7 | 1 | -6 |
| Fondling | 49 | 33 | -16 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| Statutory Rape | 11 | 3 | -8 |
| Stolen Property | 115 | 101 | -14 |
| Weapons Violations | 173 | 221 | +48 |
| Human Trafficking, Commercial Sex Acts | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Human Trafficking, Involuntary Servitude | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| Animal Cruelty | 3 | 3 | – |
| Total Group A Offenses | 6130 | 7257 | +1,127 |
*2023 crime data is based on unaudited RMS data at the time of report generation and is subject to change
11 comments
What was the police staffing levels the past 3 – 5 years?
I can’t remember the exact number but I want to say they had about 118 officers under Chief Brooks.
In the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s did anyone ever even imagine that folks would be saying they’d rather live in Baypoint than Antioch?
I lived there for many years, and liked it a lot.
Now? I’d prefer to live and raise kids in East Oakland…it’s safer.
Antioch is all done.
FB
Thank you for thie update. I wanted to be encouraged because 38 officers on patril might equal more then 4 at at time, but I’m not sure how it spreads out with shifts. You are 100% correct that these numbers are not correct as far as the crime. When I was attacked with my children, they put it in the police logs as vandalism because my car window as broken. I questioend the documenting since I escaped the harm of a man coming at me with a weapon and didn’t get an answer. The car took the brunt of the assault, thankfully not me or the kids, but it was not simply VANDALISM.
I am hopeful that the new police chief will be able to make progress towards a safer city. I carry mace at all times and I’m on high alert. Me and my kids had a man in our bubble last night in the parking lot outside In and Out/Marshalls (technically Brentwood) and I had to wait to get in my car because he was blocking my door and looking suspicious. I could tell by his eyes that we were not safe. He saw me holding my mace and moved on. Two rows over he starting twirling and screaming. My heart is just so broken that we are so close to danger over and over.
My kids and I had our car attacked by a man while I was doing a school pick up. He just got “a talking to”. Probably won’t even count as a stat since he was too weak to bust my window yet tried. He was screaming something about how he was tired of “woke mfers” and other weird right wing internet stuff. Be careful out there, people are straight up weirdos!
Still nowhere near enough officers on our streets. Talking with people they don’t bother to report crimes any more because nothing will come of it. Look at calls for service on bottom of Antioch crime stats webpage.
https://www.antiochca.gov/police/crime-statistics/ Additional Police Statistics at bottom of page.
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Those in charge of operating Antioch should have started asking questions when arrest rate began dropping in 2019 and by 2020 Police department should have received intensive scrutiny. Might help if those in charge of running Antioch would take time to listen to front line employees. Had members of city council bothered to talk with beat officers on a regular basis city might have avoided what it’s going thru now. There is a huge difference between being a leader and a lazy paper clip warrior who shuffles papers.
Other thing that needs to change is the us-them mentality and the arrogance that goes along with it.
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Until Police manning situation is fully resolved criminal element knows chances of being arrested for crime in Antioch are low. Voters of Antioch you screwed up big time. Take a look at the city with gangs and boarded up businesses.
Brooks is now my police deputy chief and has 300 sworn officers under his command, when I retired from POSCO I fled your God forsaken city, you get what you deserve Antioch.
Good for you! Brooks is a good police chief. What does POSCO stand for?
So with less officers crime up I wonder if these were call that the antioch pd responded to or just calls for service. I think crime is even higher. I was assaulted last October every 3 weeks I went to the pd to get a update kept telling me waiting for a detective to get assigned. I went to the DA 4 months after they Said still nothing from antioch pd. It’s been 5 months and report was finally sent to da. Now let’s see if the DA does anything
Who said the apd is reason for so many chiefs leaving?Not entirely ..the bad cops are mostly gone .tired caught for their dirty deeds and killing of citizens thinking they are above the law. Nope.We have large chief turnover due to a major not really knowing how to run a city .bringing in shady people to serve in city seats and allowing mothers to hide their sons that kidnapped and committed murder (Gabe) incident..she was assory to the murder but she’s still free..if she was white..she would of been charged This town is ghetto now and disgraceful.
There I said it!!
There is going to come a time where it going to be every man for himself. You better arm yourself. You think it’s bad now? It’s only going to get worse. The corrupt cops are not gone. They are laying dormant. Once it’s in the system it runs too deep to fully get rid of it. Ok the new police chief. He was Pittsburg police chief at the time of that txt message scandal. The cops that were involved just got shifted around.. so the problem is not Gone. I think From the Mayor on down. Needs to be replaced . Governor of the state will have to do something when his desk gets flooded with calls everyday. Just saying!!!
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