ANTIOCH — Deeply wounded by a fraught previous, Antioch residents are prepared to maneuver on as the town seeks a brand new police chief who can rebuild belief, guarantee accountability, and embrace neighborhood policing.
Maria Cassandra Quinto-Collins, the mom of Angelo Quinto, who died days after an encounter with Antioch police in 2020, mentioned her household has been impacted by the actions of regulation enforcement officers.
Throughout a current recruitment neighborhood assembly, she emphasised that the subsequent police chief ought to have integrity and be empathetic, and never simply towards his or her personal officers, but additionally to the general public.
“I am saying this as my family was impacted and the previous police chief, when the story about my son Angelo came, the first thing he said was we wanted to make money out of my son’s death, and that hurts,” mentioned an emotional Quinto-Collins with out specifying the identify of the chief. “I don’t think I will ever forget what happened to my son, and I don’t want any family to go through what we went through … you know, it’s been almost five years, but (the pain will) never go away.”
To help within the metropolis’s seek for a brand new chief for its police pressure, neighborhood engagement conferences have been organized by Bob Corridor and Associates, a recruitment agency.
Presently, Capt. Joe Vigil serves as the town’s interim chief. He changed Brian Addington, who just lately re-retired.
Others attending a current assembly emphasised the necessity for a chief who understands the gravity of Antioch’s historical past with its police division and is dedicated to actual change.
Former Antioch police oversight commissioner Leslie Could mentioned she want to see a frontrunner who “speaks softly but carries a big stick,” who takes accountability severely.
“I also want to see a leader who is very comfortable in working with people of all colors, cultures, and is aware of the different groups of people. We have a melting pot here,” mentioned Could.
She additionally hopes the subsequent chief focuses on coaching faculty useful resource officers.
“I want to see a chief who is not a bully, but will ensure that he has all he needs for checks and balances to be put in place, and ensure the needs of residents are being met,” mentioned Could.
Many have been involved that previous management swept points below the rug, enabling law enforcement officials with misconduct complaints to proceed serving the neighborhood with out repercussions.
“They won’t be able to come in and hit the ground running, but there are a lot of stakeholders. We all are looking for that carpet … things that we want addressed. They probably won’t all be able to be addressed at once, but if this person has integrity, I will be OK with it,” mentioned an unnamed resident.
Attendees additionally emphasised the significance of hiring a frontrunner with expertise in city policing, somebody who understands Antioch’s challenges, similar to homelessness, crime, and ongoing racial tensions.
Some mentioned they have been annoyed to see the fixed “dehumanization” of the unhoused inhabitants. They want the subsequent chief to strategy the difficulty with dignity and respect.
Lead recruiter Joe Gorton mentioned his group at Bob Corridor and Associates will current suggestions from stakeholders similar to faith-based associations, companies, law enforcement officials associations, and the three neighborhood boards to Antioch Metropolis Supervisor Bessie Marie Scott, who will in the end make the hiring resolution.
In January and February, the agency launched a nationwide recruitment for Antioch’s subsequent chief and is now screening purposes to pick out candidates carefully aligned to the town’s desired {qualifications}.
An commercial on the Worldwide Affiliation of Chiefs of Police web site states that the town is looking for somebody who’s “deeply committed to fostering community trust, engagement, and safety.”
In keeping with the submit, the applicant must be a seasoned chief with a confirmed observe document of constructing relationships with various communities and “a champion of ethical policing,” prioritizing transparency, accountability, and equity. Town additionally seeks somebody who has intensive expertise and has a forward-thinking strategy to regulation enforcement, open communication, empathy, and understanding of the neighborhood’s distinctive wants and challenges.
Town is providing compensation, a advantages package deal, and a month-to-month wage ranging between $18,821 and $22,876.
Gorton mentioned his group will conduct screening interviews and profitable candidates will transfer to the formal choice course of, the place they are going to be interviewed by three panels someday in April.
The panels embrace professionals, neighborhood members, and metropolis employees. They are going to present suggestions to Scott on who they imagine is essentially the most certified candidate. Scott will then interview the finalists and conduct a further neighborhood evaluation earlier than a closing resolution is made.
“I expect that decision to be made sometime in April. Once the hiring is done, the job will be offered to the candidate and the city will conduct background investigations,” mentioned Gorton, noting a brand new chief may come on board someday in Could.
