19 Dec Update: Antioch Reaches Settlement With Civil Rights Attorney in Police Misconduct Lawsuit

Antioch City Manager Bessie Scott, from left, Chief of Police Joe Vigil, and civil rights attorney John Burris during a press conference in Oakland on Friday regarding a settlement between the Antioch Police Department and Burris’s law firm resulting in major reforms for the agency. (Andres Jimenez Larios / Bay City News)

By Andres Jimenez Larios
Bay City News

Officials with the city of Antioch and its Police Department met with civil rights attorney John Burris and his firm to sign a formal settlement Friday that agrees to make reforms to address major issues within the agency and establish an independent monitor for oversight and compliance.

Two years after the release of an investigative report by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office into the department that found officers were using racist language in text messages and disproportionately policing communities of color, Antioch police have agreed to make major reforms within five years to their internal reporting practices, disciplinary actions, use of canine standards, officer training, and communication with the public.

Burris, who also helped bring the “Riders” case to reform the Oakland Police Department after a lawsuit filed in 2000, said the city of Antioch cooperated with his firm on the agreement and is hopeful the new standards set will help keep the Police Department accountable. He said his firm Burris, Nisenbaum, Curry & Lacy talked with dozens of Antioch residents who described their experiences with the department.

“It was a sense of disrespect for the community in terms of the manner which these officers did not perform their jobs,” Burris said.

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A federal grand jury in 2023 filed indictments that charged 10 current and former officers and employees from the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments with various crimes, including fraud, use of excessive force, and conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. Many of the officers have since been convicted and sentenced, including one, Devon Wenger, who was sentenced earlier this month to more than seven years in prison.

A $4.6 million settlement was reached earlier this year with Antioch by Burris’ firm on behalf of 23 individuals against 45 officers and three former police chiefs, alleging they were victims of issues including physical and canine abuse and widespread use of bigoted slurs.

The second settlement between the plaintiffs and the city has no monetary value but is an agreement that the Police Department will adopt practices for better policing with further supervision, oversight, accountability, and reporting practices.

The independent monitor that will be hired by Antioch will be tasked with reporting the progress of the Police Department to the City Council every six months and conduct audits showing compliance with the terms of the agreement.

On behalf of Antioch, City Manager Bessie Scott signed the settlement and said the agreement represents a future of better policing and an effort to rebuild a relationship with the public.

“Trust was strained,” said Scott. “Confidence in institutions took a serious hit, and many in our community have carried that weight in ways that don’t show up in the headlines. Today reflects the culmination of a long, demanding process it has taken ongoing effort, patience and a willingness to stay engaged even when it was uncomfortable.”

Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil said the settlement was a collaborative effort between the law firm and his department that will help improve the ways they conduct their work.

“This agreement emphasizes clear and fair policy, the use of data, metrics and analysis to guide decision making, with community trust and public safety as our top priorities,” said Vigil. “As we move into the new year, we remain committed to ongoing community engagement and to strengthening transparency, transparency and accountability.”

Key components of the settlement include disciplinary action against both officers and their supervisors if they are found to violate the policies. It also set up new standards when officers conduct traffic stops or use canines, as well as establishing an evaluation process when incidents do occur. All of these practices will be reviewed by an independently appointed police oversight monitor who will determine when the department is compliant and when they must change their actions.

A new data collection process that will be publicly available and routinely updated will be used alongside the results of a series of community outreach projects and surveys to help inform the Police Department and the independent monitor as to community demands and changes to policy.

While the Oakland Police Department remains under federal scrutiny more than 20 years later, Burris believes the agreement with Antioch is different because it was done in good faith and centers the community and their needs and complaints. He has confidence that the standards set in the settlement will be met in a timely manner.

Several Antioch elected officials and residents shared their thoughts on the new settlement at Friday’s press conference.

City Council member Tamisha Torres-Walker said the reforms for better policing are a large step in the right direction but she regretted that it took a long time to achieve this outcome.

“I want to encourage our residents, especially residents who have been harmed by the incidents of our Police Department, don’t only extend grace, but also continue to hold us accountable and continue to show up,” said Torres-Walker.
Alicia Lacey-Oha is a member of the Antioch Police Oversight Commission and said she was happy for the deal to occur so healing in the community could begin.

“There was a loss of hope when all of this had transpired, but we see that we are going forward and the healing process has begun,” said Lacey-Oha. “It’s going to take some time, but I believe with this settlement agreement, that the healing process will come into fruition.”

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