12 Jul Antioch Police Commission Addresses Proposed Changes, Hate Crimes

(Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

A first look at proposed changes to the ordinance that created the Antioch Police Oversight Commission shows that the commission might be at risk of losing some of its independence.

Commissioners at Monday’s meeting received a presentation on a number of the suggested changes, which would include allowing current officers from outside agencies to be appointed and the City Council to pause the commission in instances where city priorities change or budget constraints.

The current ordinance does not allow the City Council to pause the commission and only the commission can vote to take a break.

The council would have the authority to pause the commission based on, but not limited to, “the Commission’s effectiveness, compliance with legal obligations, budget constraints, or shifts in city priorities,” the proposed language reads.

Commissioners Alicia Lacey-Oha, Lisa Elekwachi and Joe Mitchell pushed back on parts of the changes — Lacey-Oha and Mitchell for the language overall being “too broad” and Elekwachi for the inclusion of budget constraints. All, including Vice Chair Devin Williams, suggested the need for further clarification on what would trigger a vote on a pause.

Consultant and former acting Police Chief William “Brian” Addington said the language was too broad and, though they could not predict everything that might happen, clarification would be added to the language before going to the council.

The proposed changes come months after commissioners resisted Mayor Ron Bernal’s request to pause commission meetings to allow current and new members to receive training.

Bernal made the request after the resignation of Leslie May, a former commissioner, put the city short in its agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. At the time of May’s resignation, the commission had seen three members resign since its first meeting in 2024. Around one-third of meetings had been canceled due to holidays or not enough members being in attendance, and only four members were seated at the time.

Bernal filled the three vacancies soon after, appointing commissioners Elekwachi, Susan Kennedy and Mitchell, the last of whom drew controversy for his comments on social media.

Aside from Bernal’s support for having the power to pause the commission, council member Tamisha Torres-Walker has called for the commission to remain independent “outside of political influence.”

Another change to the ordinance would allow current police officers of agencies outside of the city to serve on the commission. Right now, current officers and their spouses from any law enforcement agency do not qualify to sit on the commission.

“Our position is that somebody who is a current police officer or spouse of a police officer may have some unique insight and be a valuable person to serve on this commission,” said Addington. “Just because you’re in the profession, doesn’t mean your opinion is not valued.”

That would mean that current officers, or their spouses, at law enforcement agencies such as Richmond Police Department could be appointed to the commission, Addington said.

Elekwachi said she had “some reservations” about the change because of how that might look to residents.

“From the perspective of the citizen, the optics are bad, so I wouldn’t trust it,” she said. “As soon as you put it out, and say, ‘This person is a current police officer,’ I can imagine.”

All proposed changes and any revisions made would have to be approved by the City Council at a later meeting.

Hate crimes increase 

Hate crimes in Antioch rose by 66% in 2024 compared to the previous year, increasing from two to five, the department said at the Antioch Police Oversight Commission meeting Monday.

Four out of five of the cases were anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, according to acting Lt. Bill Whitaker. The other hate crime was anti-Black, where the n-word was written on a shed near a church.

“It was a 66% increase in hate crimes, but you have to look at it with only five in a city this large, it’s fairly low,” Whitaker said at the Monday meeting.

The rise is part of a citywide increase in crime in 2024, he said.

The data also mirrors a statewide jump in hate crimes, where reported crimes increased by 2.7%, according to a report released by the California Attorney General last month. Hate crimes against Jewish and LGBTQ+ individuals especially increased, the report showed.

Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ communities saw the largest increase across the state. Anti-transgender events increased by 12.3% and anti-LGBTQ+ bias events by 13.9%.

When asked by Commissioner Lisa Elekwachi if any environmental factors had a role in the increase, Whitaker said there was no apparent reason for the increase in hate crimes.

Some advocates have suggested that the increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes nationwide — which have previously increased even when crime overall decreases — has been in part due to politicians who pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and spread misinformation.

Two of the city’s cases resulted in arrests, one involving a juvenile and the other an adult, said Whitaker.

So far, Whitaker said no hate crimes have been reported in the city for 2025.

As for prevention tips, Whitaker said it’s the same for everyone.

“If you see something, say something. If you see something that looks out of place, call,” he said. “There’s nothing preventative-wise that would deter (the crimes).”