Justice Department Reaches Agreement With Antioch Police Department Resolving Race Discrimination Investigation

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

OAKLAND — The Justice Department announced today an agreement with the Antioch, California, Police Department (APD) and the City of Antioch to resolve an investigation of race discrimination and other discriminatory conduct by APD officers against members of the public in Antioch.

The department launched its investigation after the public disclosure of discriminatory text communications that dozens of APD personnel allegedly exchanged between September 2019 and January 2022. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division jointly investigated APD’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and the nondiscrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (Safe Streets Act). Title VI and the Safe Streets Act collectively prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by recipients of federal financial assistance, such as APD.

“Law enforcement is only effective when it inspires public confidence,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “A police department that discriminates based on race and other protected classes undermines both public safety and public confidence. Today’s agreement will help ensure that policing in Antioch is done constitutionally and will help restore public trust.”

“Fair and non-discriminatory policing is fundamental to effective law enforcement, especially for those agencies that receive federal funding,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In working with the Justice Department to institute policing reform, Antioch Police Department sends a strong message that the discrimination and misconduct that prompted this investigation will not be tolerated. The agreement we have secured will ensure that Antioch’s policing practices are free from discrimination in the road ahead — the community deserves nothing less.”

In response to the investigation, APD, the City of Antioch and the City Manager worked cooperatively with the department to reach a resolution agreement embodying a commitment to nondiscrimination in APD’s policing operations and advancing its ongoing efforts to prevent and address discriminatory law enforcement practices.

Under the agreement, APD will hire an expert law enforcement consultant jointly selected by the parties to review and update APD’s policies, procedures, and training on a variety of topics, including non-discriminatory policing, use of force, hiring and promotions, investigations of misconduct, discipline, community policing, language access, and other topics.

The agreement contemplates a role for the Antioch Police Oversight Commission and sets forth a framework for data collection and reporting for a five-year period of departmental monitoring, among other provisions.  

Assistant United States Attorney Michael Keough, with the assistance of Jonathan Birch, and attorneys from the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are handling this case.

Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations to this office via our website or at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

Antioch Agreement