Antioch police chief says staffing still short, but some officers are returning from leave

ANTIOCH — Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington this week acknowledged current staffing is still about a third down from what is authorized, but said they are actively recruiting and some officers are returning from administrative leave.

Addington, in comments to the Antioch Police Oversight Commission on Monday, said sworn police staffing is at 77 – not including officers on leave – of 115 budgeted positions. Of those, 39 are patrol officers, including two watch commanders.

The number “does change daily,” he said, noting the department is preparing for a lieutenant to retire this week, a sergeant next week and a corporal and a captain in a month or two.

“We are in the process of opening recruitments for several positions,” the interim chief said.

Addington added that four recruits will soon join the force and begin field training, two more graduate in June and six others will soon begin academy training. Lateral officers have also applied and some 35 potential new recruits were interviewed last week, he said.

Over the past two years, the city has dealt with state and federal investigations into multiple officers’ alleged misconduct — including accusations of criminal conduct and racist, homophobic and sexist text messages — which has resulted in many being placed on paid administrative leave. Addington put the current number of those on leave at 17.

Police Oversight Commission chair Harry Thurston asked what the normal staffing number should be.

“Sixty plus is what we really need (for patrol),” Addington said.

Of those on administrative leave, Addington said “several” have returned, including two back on the streets.

“How do we ensure that our new officers that are coming onto the force will not be influenced by folks who are coming back?” Commissioner Devin Williams asked. “How do we know, as a commission, that these officers coming back have changed their character?”

Addington said besides looking at behavior, his best answer is “to hold people accountable.”

“And that’s what I’m going to do,” he added.

Commissioner Leslie May said the public needs to know they are safe as officers remain to the streets after being put on leave.

“We’re assuming that violations were sustained,” Addington said. “In some cases, maybe there were no violations that were found to exist in some of these 17 officers. The best thing I can say is, I am 100 percent comfortable with the officers who are on the street, that they have the aptitude and ability and I trust that they are making the right decisions and we have supervisors there to ensure that as well.”

Some community members still questioned the officers’ return.

Homeless advocate Nichole Gardner questioned the police department’s recent handling and characterization of a homeless encampment sweep in which she said even those who had come to help pull vehicles out of the mud had their vehicles towed. City officials later said 18 vehicles with expired registration were towed, and two stripped motorcycles and an industrial floor sweeper “suspected of being stolen” were found at the site.

“There were about 15 officers that were there at this encampment sweep, when we don’t even have officers to cover the crime that is in our city,” she said, noting no one was arrested.

Frank Sterling of Reimagine Antioch also said he was concerned about officers involved in the texting scandal returning to work. Records show nearly have of the police force either sent or received the messages, which included racist texts about the former police chief, an exchange of a “prime rib” dinner for anyone who shot the mayor with a less-lethal bullet at a protest and photos of men in hospital beds after they were injured by officers during gang unit operations.

“I think it’s the public’s right to know (the names of the involved officers),” he said. “If I’m driving around with some of my friends and we happen to get pulled over, I need to know if these guys were sending gorilla memes using the N-word.”

Sterling added, “I don’t want to get pulled over by someone that joked about violence and made a happy face, laughing face about the bruises they left on someone with a less-than-lethal gun.”

Teki Flow, also of Reimagine Antioch, said that some residents “have faced trauma” at the hands of the Antioch Police Department.

“It’s not always race,” she said. “It’s the culture. “If police officers are coming back, if they don’t understand that they have to change within themselves, we will never heal from the trauma on our community.”

The interim chief would not say how many officers will return to duty or give any other details as the cases are still being resolved, he said. But he did promise the city would be making a statement when the investigation is complete, which he suggested would be in several weeks.