‘We’re Transferring in’: California Lawyer Basic Launches Investigation Into Antioch Police Division After Racist Texting Scandal
The latest scandal involves 17 officers who sent the inappropriate text messages and other officers who received them – a significant percentage of a department with only about 100 officers.
Bonta said his office has been keeping tabs on the Antioch Police for some time — over concerns including the inappropriate use of force and dogs.
“We have seen data that shows an increase in excessive use of force in the Antioch Police Department more clearly than other local police departments in the vicinity and region,” Bonta said. “We have seen that excessive violence has differential effects on communities of color, including black community members.”
The investigation follows years of complaints by numerous Antioch residents of color about harmful and potentially illegal police practices, and comes amid ongoing investigations by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office into alleged misconduct within the department.
But Bonta said the recent SMS scandal has hastened the launch of his office’s investigation.
“These texts are difficult to read. You are racist. You are homophobic. They are misogynistic. And these are not just comments that have nothing to do with official duties. They are directly related to official duties, including the use of force,” Bonta said, noting that he felt an “emotional, visceral, guttural response” as he read it.
“I think almost 20% of the police force is involved in text messaging,” he added. “Almost half of the police are involved in receiving this text message.”
This story includes reports from KQED’s Spencer Whitney and Bay City News.