ANTIOCH — Amid a recent surge of gun violence in the Sycamore corridor, the Antioch Police Department is working on multiple initiatives to beef up security and reduce crime in the city.
Earlier this month, the Antioch City Council earmarked $500,000 in funding to help the city’s police department not only better respond to hot-spot areas, but also fill in gaps in the department caused by a racist text scandal and allegations of widespread misconduct.
The increase in funding will allow for additional patrolling by utilizing outside law enforcement agencies. Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington said his department is in talks with its lawyers and insurance risk carriers to carve out a service agreement.
Addington said this service agreement will be used as a model in utilizing the funding initiative approved by the City Council.
“Hopefully, this (agreement) will be signed off in the next two to three weeks,” Addington told this news organization. “The reality is, getting law enforcement officers to come into a city takes a little bit of time to do, but we’re making it happen as quickly as we can.”
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said getting help from outside law enforcement agencies is urgent to help reduce violence in some hotspot areas. He said the Antioch Police Department is already conducting extra patrolling in the Sycamore corridor, but that entails moving officers from other areas.
“So the city wants to bring in the additional outside help for the extra patrol in the Sycamore corridor to ensure all areas are covered equally,” said Hernandez-Thorpe.
However, the mayor acknowledged that no government agency works “at lightning speed.”
“If there is a government agency that does that, then they deserve a gold trophy,” he said, adding he is confident in getting outside help soon.
The funding for long-term assistance from other law enforcement agencies would see officers earn $200 an hour. Addington said one agency has expressed a willingness to send manpower, but the arrangement can only be finalized once a service agreement is in place.
The urgency for action has been most noticeable in the Sycamore area. So far this year, there have been 22 shootings, including 15 in September, police said. The surge of violence last month began with the killing of 21-year-old Elijah Scales, who was shot on Peppertree Way on Sept. 2.
Addington remains optimistic, however. Based on ongoing discussions, he said there are a few cities willing to help Antioch.
“No city is going to come in and say we’re going to send you two officers, seven days a week, but some have expressed interest in sending in some officers,” he said.
The Antioch Police Department has been grappling with staffing shortages after several officers were either charged or indicted in relation to a widespread misconduct investigation or for their involvement in racist, homophobic, and sexist text messages that were sent amongst officers. As of August, the APD had 73 out of 115 authorized officer positions filled, but was still working on increasing staffing levels.
While new officers are being hired, Addington said …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
