Antioch reaches agreement with the Justice Department after racist text scandal

The city of Antioch has reached an agreement after an investigation into the police department's discriminatory conduct against community members, the United States Department of Justice announced Friday. 

An investigation was launched into the Antioch Police Department after discriminatory texts between officers and APD personnel were discovered. The texts were allegedly exchanged from September 2019 to January 2022. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office worked with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to investigate the city's compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

The agreement between the parties aims to protect the rights of community members moving forward. 

APD has agreed to hire an expert law enforcement consultant who will be jointly selected to review and update the department's policies, procedures and training. 

"In working with the Justice Department to institute policing reform, Antioch Police Department sends a strong message that the discrimination and misconduct that prompted this investigation will not be tolerated. The agreement we have secured will ensure that Antioch’s policing practices are free from discrimination in the road ahead — the community deserves nothing less."

Former Mayor of Aaantioch Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe shared a statement with KTVU on the outcome:

"My term as mayor was focused on making Antioch a safer city by addressing the longstanding mistrust between the public and the Antioch Police Department. As a result of today’s agreement, I am proud to say that my administration has successfully achieved its objective of reforming the culture of racism that has plagued the Antioch Police Department for decades, " Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe told KTVU. 

KTVU has reached out to the APD for comment on this story, we are still waiting to hear back.