“It’s a worrying situation.” Antioch police chief responds to racist texting scandal and officer shortage

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“It’s a worrying situation.” Antioch police chief responds to racist texting scandal and officer shortage

Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford faces an uphill battle with more than three dozen officers on leave due to various scandals and a community at arms over the department’s troubling issues.

ANTIOCH, Calif. — Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford faces an uphill battle.

He currently has a few dozen officers on leave due to major scandals involving racist text messages and criminal investigations by the Contra Costa County District Attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

These scandals left the department beleaguered with far fewer officers on patrol and a community in arms on how to solve the department’s problems.

Antioch Police Chief Steven A. Ford. | Courtesy of the City of Antioch

“People may think that maybe the organization should shut down or crawl into a corner and just give up,” he said. “We don’t have that luxury. We have no choice, we have to do our job.”

Currently, 38 Antioch police officers are on administrative leave and only 34 are actively patrolling the streets, Ford said.

The turmoil comes after an investigation by federal prosecutors and investigators found racist, misogynistic and homophobic text messages sent to officers over two years. The ongoing scandal has prompted protests and lawsuits. He also challenged the integrity of previous police investigations. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has already dropped 40 cases tainted by the officers involved and hinted there could be many more to come. The county’s public defender wants more cases dropped and has asked that the cases involving the officers involved in the scandal be dismissed.

But in an interview with KTVU on Friday, Ford said he doesn’t believe his police department as a whole is racist or incapable of operating effectively.

“We can’t sugarcoat reality,” he said. “We know a handful of officers made choices and decisions, but they’re not representative of the entire organization. I don’t think it’s a department-wide issue.”

Ford said internal changes have already begun, including revising cellphone policies, handling police K-9s and police use of force. He added that other reforms were underway.

The head, in office for a year, recognized the shortcomings of the department. Ford said he was not opposed to federal oversight.

“At this point, I am open to whatever resources we have to get this organization back on track,” he said. “We need to be accountable, so that we can be credible in the eyes of the community we serve.”

The ministry recently restructured its patrol teams to deal with the shortage of officers. Ford said there were no delays in officer response times or gaps in violent crime investigations.

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In about a week, Antioch will launch a crisis response team that will help relieve the police department by handling non-violent crime and mental health-related calls.

With at least seven officers set to graduate from the police academy and join the ranks at Antioch, Ford said rebuilding the department requires a change in psychology and culture.

“We want to make sure the community knows who we are, what we stand for, and most importantly, what our purpose is as a forward-thinking police organization,” Ford said. “The pushback we’re going to experience – it’s justified. Let’s be clear, people expect us to behave and function in a certain way.”

To that end, Ford said it is partnering with the NAACP to develop monthly forums to engage and build bridges with underserved communities or neighbors who may be afraid of the police.

“The number one thing is to restore trust in the community,” Ford said. “That’s the number one thing.”

Brooks Jarosz is an investigative reporter for KTVU. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BrooksKTVU

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