On Wednesday, the Antioch Police Department hosted its grand opening ceremony for its new Sycamore Square Substation.
The new substation represents a strategic investment in public safety infrastructure and community-based policing in Antioch. The project was supported in part by a $25,000 award through the Contra Costa County Community Impact Fund. The funding was recommended by Supervisor Diane Burgis and jointly supported by Supervisors Diane Burgis (District 3) and Shanelle Scales-Preston (District 5), with each district contributing $12,500.
The funding was recommended for approval by Supervisor Burgis and approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. The allocation supports the department’s continued efforts to strengthen neighborhood safety and improve response capabilities in East Contra Costa County.
City Manager Bessie Marie Scott expressed appreciation for the County’s partnership, stating:
“I want to express our sincere gratitude for your decision to allocate funding to our police department for the Substation in Sycamore. Your commitment to public safety and to ensuring that our officers have the resources they need to serve our community is deeply appreciated. This investment strengthens not only the department, but the wellbeing of our neighborhoods as a whole. Thank you for your leadership, your responsiveness to community needs here in Antioch, and your dedication to keeping our city safe.”
Here is the full video from the event:
Crystal Law Brooks, who was invited to speak by Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker, offered commentary on the substation and what she hoped would occur.
“Regardless of what you guys hear about Sycamore, we’re like a family over here,” said Books. “What I don’t want is for substation is just be an authoritative station. just something where we come in here and we just put in our authority and we just try to run people out. I want this station to mean more than that. To hit where we need it to hit emotionally, mentally, physically. I want you know the people in this area to know that they have the ability to and the capability to do things that they may not have been able to do prior.”
Councilmember Torres-Walker highlighted she spoke with a young man earlier in the day and he had ben in this community for four decades and this was the first such investment he has seen.
“That is a shame,” said Torres-Walker. “Municipalities need to take responsibility for the harm that has happened in this community and I think that responsibility didn’t just start today, but it’s happening and it’s going to continue to happen.”
She continued, thanking her peers on the city council.
“I know that there was some lack of belief in what this substation slash community center would actually mean. Public safety is not just about police presences. It is also about resources. This substation is going to double as also a resource center,” explained Torres-Walker. “We have nonprofits and county services lining up every day contacting me saying, “How can we come partner in this community? How can we create infrastructure in this community so it can increase a better quality of life for the entire Antioch? We are building healthy communities today in Antioch and I’m happy to be a part of that and I thank the residents of District 1 for using their body, their ballot and their vision to make this happen”
Mayor Ron Bernal highlighted Torres-Walker had been talking about a substation in Sycamore Square for years, dating back when he was city manager.
“This location is about community engagement. This is not about enforcement. The police department is committed to engaging with the community in this location and making sure that the families and the kids and the residents all feel welcome coming in here and are not feeling like they’re being run out of here. So, it’s the exact opposite feeling that maybe
folks might feel like it is sometimes when they see a police car. So that’s going to take a minute. It requires trust to be built, but that’s our desire here is to see that happen,” said Bernal.
Supervisor Diane Burgis highlighted how Torres-Walker invested her heart and soul into this project.
“She’s invested her heart and soul into this. And there’s a lot of people that have done that and we’re going to have to continue to invest in that both financially and with our hearts,” said Burgis. “I see this place as a bridge where maybe some folks have felt like that was the other side they couldn’t get to. I’m hoping this is a bridge where everybody can meet and talk and find common ground. I’m so encouraged by the investment by our city council members, by our staff at the city of Antioch, by our law enforcement, and most importantly by our community, our advocates, our nonprofits, because they are the trusted members that are going to help that bridge be successful.”
Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil said that today was more than just the opening of a substation, but an investment.
“Today represents more than just the opening of a substation. It represents a strategic investment in safety, partnerships, and future of and the future of this community. This substation strengthens our ability to serve the people in this area, improve access to resources, and reinforces our commitment to being present and engaged when we are needed most,” said Vigil.
He also thanked city manager Bessie Scott who expressed support when first discussing the idea of the substation.
“We both understood the importance it could have and the impact it would make in this area. Her leadership, guidance, and commitment to this community have helped move the city forward in a way that will have a positive impact for years to come. I guess that’s what happens when you’re ranked among the top 10 city managers in the nation,” shared Vigil. “When we started this effort early last year, we had no idea it would take this long to get here. Projects like this require time, commitment, and perseverance. And many people work behind the scenes to help bring it to completion.”
He continued.
“We want this to be a place to be a place where residents feel comfortable walking in. More importantly, we want this to be a place where people can find support. A place where citizens can connect with resources, ask questions, raise concerns, and work together with us to solve problems,” explained Vigil. “This substation is not just about having a police presence in the area. It’s about strengthening relationships. It’s about building trust. And it’s about creating opportunities for collaboration between law enforcement, community partners, and the people who live and work here.”
He closed by highlighting public safety works best when it’s built on partnership and when law enforcement and the community work side by side creating stronger neighborhoods, safer streets, and greater opportunities for the people we serve.
Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston also thanked Torres-Walker for her work over the past two years to make this happen. She stated this project was an example of what partnership looks like.
“She has really worked hard for this over the past two years and I could tell you in 2024 when I was campaigning and there was a lot of activity going on in the Sycamore area and Tamisha made sure it’s around faith leaders, community groups, community members all together to come out and support the Sycamore area,” shared Scales-Preston. “This is her district and she was on the ground every single day providing resources right here in this parking lot to the community members. and we walked through these neighborhoods’ knocking on doors communicating with the residents and she knew right away what was needed and so that really takes a lot. I just want to thank you for all of your hard work. I also want to thank the city because I know as transition happened, this was something Tamisha was still working on. And so just to thank the new council members and mayors and our police department to still see that having a substation right here in this community was so needed.:
Editors Note – back in November 2024, it was Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker, who requested the item about a Sycamore Square city location, calling this more than a 2-year conversation for a space in Sycamore Square for the city to invest in resources for the community and the city to work with the property owner. It then dates back even two years earlier when former Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe shared the property owner had reserved a space for the city.
Previous
- Feb 2025 – Antioch Police Department to Host Sycamore Substation Grand Opening
- Nov 2025 – Supervisor Diane Burgis to Present Community Impact Fund Awards for District 3
- April 2025 – Antioch Agrees to Move Towards Sycamore Square Substation
- April 2025 – Antioch Could Approve Sycamore Square Police Substation Lease
- Nov 2024 – Antioch Agrees to Begin Conversation on Sycamore Square Police Sub Station
