ANTIOCH – Practically 9 months after inking an settlement with the U.S. Division of Justice to extend police oversight, Antioch mentioned it’s working towards attaining compliance and different adjustments.
Manjit Sappal, a marketing consultant collectively chosen by the Division of Justice, the town and the Antioch Police Division, mentioned throughout an replace to the Metropolis Council on Tuesday that some timelines within the settlement have been shifted as a result of a delay in appointing a marketing consultant.
Sappal, who’s tasked with reviewing and updating insurance policies to make sure the division is in compliance with the settlement, was appointed in Might.
The deadlines of some duties, similar to neighborhood engagement, self-assessment by the police division, and the division’s language entry plans, have been pushed to a later timeline as a result of delay, Sappal mentioned.
He assured that the Division of Justice is conscious of the matter.
“I think it’s also important to remember that what we’re trying to do here is not just to check these boxes off, it’s really building a sustainable culture with the police department, and that takes time,” mentioned Sappal.
He mentioned the change in Antioch is “going to happen a little faster than normal” because the police division and the town are channeling their assets wanted to make sure that.
One of many necessities of the settlement pertains to insurance policies, directives, and coaching, that are being reviewed by the police division with strong enter from varied events, together with the California Division of Justice, Sappal mentioned.
Among the insurance policies beneath evaluate give attention to high-priority insurance policies similar to use of drive, bias-based policing, and canine insurance policies.
As soon as the insurance policies are authorised by the working group, they are going to be handed to Antioch Police Division Chief Joe Vigil for enter.
“Once that process is done, it goes to the city attorney and then goes to the city manager, and once everyone’s signed off on it, it will go to the Department of Justice. This is our ongoing rolling process,” mentioned Sappal. “There are about 15 or 16 tied in directly to this agreement, and those are the priority.”
He mentioned after this course of, the whole police division’s guide will likely be reviewed to make sure each coverage aligns with metropolis and division objectives of constructing a powerful neighborhood and complying with the Division of Justice’s settlement.
The deadline for the coverage portion is Nov. 24.
Sappal mentioned the police division is discovering it difficult to search out licensed trainers to conduct coaching on principled policing, anti-discrimination, and anti-bias policing.
The Division of Justice has allowed the police division to interact officers with an interactive procedural justice and principled policing coaching, led by one of many division’s sergeants and an outdoor marketing consultant.
“So the only thing missing from that portion was some discussion on the Safe Streets Act, which is specified in the agreement, and that is going to be added for the next training regimen,” mentioned Sappal.
Different facets of the settlement additionally contact on hiring, background investigations protocol, and promotional processes, which is being fine-tuned to make sure the method is extra elaborate.
Sappal added that Antioch can also be working towards hiring an analyst to look over knowledge to make sure the police division will not be policing with bias or discriminatory motives.
The police division may also evaluate its criticism and misconduct insurance policies.
“We want to make sure that the community feels comfortable in making complaints, they can bring them forward, that we’re not putting up roadblocks, so we’re going to work through that process and make sure we document those,” mentioned Sappal.
Sappal mentioned one of many elementary facets of the settlement is neighborhood engagement efforts, which fall beneath the purview of the Antioch Police Oversight Fee.
The fee’s advert hoc committee is trying into the neighborhood engagement plan.
The Antioch Police Division has additionally appointed a neighborhood liaison officer, forward of the Division of Justice’s 2027 deadline to construct stronger relationships with residents.
Councilmember Monica Wilson requested how to make sure greatest practices proceed and the division doesn’t “slip back to bad habits.”
Sappal mentioned regardless of the preliminary challenges, it’s evident that the police division wished to “move in the right direction” with new management and skills coming in.
“But fundamentally, you have to have training and policies and accountability in the organization so that all the new folks that are being hired know nothing else. This is what they will know,” mentioned Sappal. “We’re getting a different caliber of folks with this generation, and in some ways, they can communicate fairly well. They’re open-minded, and I think when you have good training, good policies, good leadership, you’ve got the magic ingredients to succeed. So, I don’t see any reason why this would not continue.”
He famous that the division has been “very receptive” to suggestions and dialogue put ahead.
“And that essentially sums up where we are, all in all, very positive and good progress,” mentioned Sappal.
Sappal identified that elected members and the neighborhood have an obligation to carry the police division accountable by asking questions and offering suggestions to make sure their wants are met.
