On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will discuss its future plans for the Antioch Crime Prevention Commission.
The 7-member Police Crime Commission has not met since September 20, 2021 due to lack of quorum at meetings. The crime commission, which focuses on crime prevention, has not met as the Mayor and Antioch City Council has not sought out applicants for the committee as all but Chairperson Matthew Dawson (June 2024) have had their terms expired.
The Police Crime Commission / End of Term
- Matthew Dawson – 6/2024
- Dwayne Eubanks – 10/2021
- Nichole Randolph – 10/2021
- Robert Munton – 10/2021
- Clyde Lewis, Jr – 02/2023
- Vacancy – 06/2023
- Vacancy – 10/2024
Some of the issues they tackle include:
- Neighborhood & Business Watch Implementation
- Antioch Noise Ordinances (review/make recommendations)
- National Night Out
- School Watch and Care Program
Although the Police Crime Prevention Commission has not met since 2021, Neighborhood Watch and National Night Out continue to exist outside the purview of the Commission through the Antioch Police Department staff and Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) program
Most recently, former city manager turned mayoral candidate Ron Bernal, shared the Antioch Neighborhood Watch program was once 200 groups strong in the City.
This commission suffered the same fate as the Antioch Economic Development Commission who had also not met since December 2021. They also had a lack of quorum at the time with just 3 of 7 spots filled. At its March 2023 council meeting, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe explained it was a deliberate decision and claimed it was because the role of the commission was not well defined and unfair to staff.
It is recommended that the City Council direct staff to take one of the following actions:
- Initiate the candidate application process to fill the vacancies on the Police Crime Prevention Commission;
- Prepare an ordinance to dissolve the Police Crime Prevention Commission;
- Prepare a resolution for an ad hoc committee to propose the future mission and purpose of the Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission;
- Take no action
If the City Council elects to retain and reactivate the Police Crime Prevention Commission, the fiscal impact would include staffing costs for the time dedicated by the Antioch Police Department staff liaison, the City Clerk’s Office staff, and the City Attorney’s Office staff.
Editors Note:
The Antioch Police Crime Commission is different from the Antioch Police Oversight Commission as the Antioch City Council has been focused on police oversight, not crime prevention in the city.
If You Go
Antioch City Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
7:00 pm
200 H Street, City of Antioch
Full Agenda – click here
2 comments
So many commissions, so little accomplished. Touch to focus on crime prevention when the city council itself is criminal heavy.
LaThorpe James Gomez decommissioned this because he wanted less eyes on him. Antioch will continue to be a shit hole and a laughing stock until this clown is out of office.