ANTIOCH — Within the newest police-related controversy to hit this beleaguered metropolis, officers right here have agreed to pay $190,000 to the previous chief, who filed a authorized declare after particulars a few then-pending administrative investigation have been leaked to the press.
The town’s “unfounded” ruling means investigators disproved the allegations. In an interview, Ford mentioned it was “hurtful to be accused of something that I knew wasn’t true” however that he’s pleased with the result.
”I’m simply grateful the reality got here out,” Ford mentioned.
“Under California law, investigations regarding peace officers may only be revealed publicly when allegations are sustained. In this matter, the allegation against Chief Ford was found not true,” the assertion says. “The city expresses its appreciation to Chief Ford for his previous service as Antioch police chief. It wishes Chief Ford the best for his future law enforcement career.”
Ford, a longtime veteran of the San Francisco Police Division earlier than coming to Antioch, didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
In 2022, Ford took over a division that appeared headed for stormy waters, assuming management after the FBI and Contra Costa District Legal professional carried out a sequence of raids concentrating on officers who have been suspected of crimes. A lot of Ford’s tenure was spent crafting reforms, attending neighborhood occasions and promising to win again public belief. He abruptly resigned in July 2023, however tried and didn’t get his job again in 2025, which later turned a chunk of his authorized declare.
The declare accused the town of “defamation,” invasion of privateness, inflicting emotional misery and a “failure to re-hire in retaliation” when Ford sought the chief’s job in 2025.
He filed the declare final April, after officers introduced they’d chosen Joseph Vigil, a veteran Antioch officer who’d served as appearing chief, for the job. On Feb. 18, Vigil despatched Ford a letter stating a third-party investigation had cleared him.
Ford by no means acknowledged his purpose for leaving the division. His divorce proceedings started across the time of his resignation. After leaving Antioch, he tried and didn’t acquire chief jobs in Oakland and at Cal State East Bay.
In August 2023, a federal grand jury and Contra Costa prosecutors charged a complete of 14 ex-Antioch and Pittsburg cops with numerous crimes, together with three ex-Antioch officers charged with violent civil rights abuses. One was later convicted at trial, a second pleaded responsible to grow to be a authorities’s witness and the third is about to go earlier than a jury subsequent month.
By then, particulars of one other associated scandal had already been made public, involving Antioch officers who shared racist, sexist and homophobic communications in textual content teams. These included slurs and disparaging feedback about Ford, who’s Black, in addition to native politicians and different officers.
In a letter saying his resignation in July 2023, Ford mentioned he was “proud” of accomplishments throughout his comparatively quick tenure.
“I sincerely hope our engagement with the community will continue and flourish,” he wrote.
Initially Printed: August 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM PDT
