Antioch makes change in police leadership

Steve Ford, a commander with the San Francisco Police Department and college professor, has been appointed Antioch’s new interim police chief.

Mayor Lamar Thorpe made the announcement late Wednesday morning at a press conference at City Hall, noting it had been many years since a new chief had been hired from the outside. The last time was Chief Jim Hyde of Davis who was hired to head Antioch’s police department in 2006.

“For far too long, Antioch’s Police Department pathway to the chief’s position was one that only looked inward from within the current ranks, which does not work with the Antioch of today,” Thorpe said. “By taking the previous approach, our city has not been exposed to the best practices and the new ways of thinking, which are so critical to an evolving police department and that are even more critical when wanting to change institutional culture.”

Ford, commander of community engagement, has more than 31 years’ experience with the San Francisco Police Department. A Pinole resident, he has PhD in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s College and is an adjunct professor at San Francisco State University and City College where he teaches administration of justice and public administration courses.

Ford thanked the mayor for “having the confidence in me to lead this organization.

“After completing 31 years with the San Francisco Police Department, serving as the commander of police, I certainly appreciate this incredible opportunity,” Ford said. “Restoring and bolstering community trust is critical. And I look forward to establishing meaningful relationships with our schools, our businesses, our neighborhoods, our faith-based groups, and most importantly, specifically, our youth.”

Thorpe also thanked current interim Chief Anthony Morefield for stepping in after then-Chief Tammany Brooks resigned last fall to take a job in Idaho.

The mayor said the city will be looking at new protocols for hiring a police chief in the near future.

“We’re designing a new process that will be open and transparent that engages the community and the hiring of the police chief,” he said, citing San Jose as a model. “Those are some of the aspects that we want to see in our hiring process for the police chief.”

Thorpe did not give an exact timeline but added that they hope to select a new chief within months.

Check back for updates.