22 Oct Allegedly ‘Disrespectful’ CHP Behavior Raises Questions on Antioch Police Commission

Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil, left, and Antioch Police Oversight Commission Vice Chair Devin Williams at Monday’s APOC meeting. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

Prompted by what one resident called “rude and disrespectful behavior” by the California Highway Patrol, some Antioch Police Oversight commissioners are suggesting two things in response.

Vice Chair Devin Williams suggested the Antioch Police Oversight Commission pen a “strongly worded letter” in response to the behavior because of trauma in the city.

“It’s just fair. You can’t come to a town that’s been harassed by law enforcement and then expect people to be OK with it and not have any action taken,” said Williams, laughing in part, at Monday’s meeting.

Williams’ comments were in response to a resident’s public comment that questioned how long the agency would be operating in the city.

“It’s just disgusting. We already have too much stuff going on, so I’m just curious to know how long,” said Crystal Law.

Law did not go into detail on what behavior by those within the agency she considered rude, but Commissioner Alicia Lacey-Oha said she also wondered why CHP was in the area.

As a statewide agency, CHP’s primary role is jurisdiction over freeways and properties owned by the state, but it can conduct enforcement actions anywhere. The agency does not have to notify the city if they’re working in the area, said Assistant City Attorney Kevin Kundinger.

The agency is part of the “several task forces” that exist within the county, according to Police Chief Joe Vigil.

“If you’re seeing CHP in and around town, it’s probably because they are working in response to one of the task forces,” said Vigil. “Sometimes they partner with us, sometimes they don’t.”

Vigil said the agency also shows up when mutual aid is requested, but often neighboring police departments, such as those in Pittsburg and Brentwood, are the ones that respond.

Commissioner Susan Kennedy requested that the commission receive an overview of what task forces the city is involved in and those that may otherwise be taking place in the area.

Kennedy pointed to the recent raids conducted at two suspected fentanyl labs by the Pittsburg Police Department, which included a response by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and hazmat teams.

“So lots of different agencies are being called in and just kind of helping folks understand that in any given situation, folks might need to be called in for help. You’re going to see somebody that you may or may not be familiar with,” said Kennedy.

If a resident wants to file a complaint about a CHP officer, Kundinger said a complaint can be filed directly with the agency.

“Any complaints that have to do with CHP that would be submitted to the city, the best we could do is forward it to them, but that’s not a replacement for the affected person making the complaint themselves directly to the agency,” said Kundinger.

Complaints to the CHP can be filed online or through the mail by accessing forms online at chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/commend-or-complain.