ANTIOCH — The Antioch police oversight commission will not meet until at least June as the city looks for a replacement following the resignation of Commissioner Leslie May.
Mayor Ron Bernal, who proposed a pause on the meetings, said the city will need to find three individuals to serve on the commission to ensure it complies with the 25-page memorandum of understanding that Antioch agreed to with the U.S. Department of Justice in January.
The agreement, established in response to a racist-text scandal and alleged criminal activities within the Antioch Police Department, requires at least five of the seven oversight commission members to serve continuously for two years to fulfill mandated reforms.
After May’s resignation on Monday, the commission now has four members.
Prior to stepping down, May had faced criticism for using “several racist epithets” to describe Antioch City Manager Bessie Marie Scott and former City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith, both Black, during a special meeting on Jan.17.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Bernal proposed developing rules of decorum for all elected and appointed city officials, including commission and board members. The proposal will be brought to the council and the community for approval.
“I also want to make sure that we have adequate funding for the Antioch police oversight commission and make sure they are getting the training and everything they need,” said Bernal. “So that way, when we do start again in June or so, it is a fully functioning group of individuals running it.”
Under the DOJ agreement, the city is responsible for providing oversight commission members with the necessary resources, training, and capacity to fulfill their responsibilities. This includes collaborating with organizations such as the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement and other civilian oversight bodies to develop and implement a training plan for commissioners.
Bernal said he has “no intention” of making any recommendation or removing the current commissioners as “they are doing a fine job.”
“I’m grateful for what they are doing and have been doing, their work will continue on the ad-hoc while we’re in the process of getting the full commission back together,” said Bernal.
He added that the council also intends to provide a clearer outline of the commission’s role and responsibilities in the future.
Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker asked if there would be any penalty for being out of compliance with the DOJ following the halt on the oversight commission’s meetings.
“Is this something that we’ve already discussed with the Department of Justice,” asked Torres-Walker.
Bernal said the city has discussed the matter with the DOJ, and the department “appears to be open” to the idea of ensuring the commission is fully staffed and functioning.
“We believe that the DOJ will not have a problem with this,” said Bernal. “We will be confirming that this week.”
Torres-Walker also questioned if the city has communicated the decision to the state DOJ, which is also investigating use of force incidents involving Antioch Police Department officers.
Bernal said he was “not sure” about that.
The Antioch police oversight commission plays a critical role under the federal DOJ agreement, helping to update and shape non-discriminatory policing policies, procedures, and training.
The city manager and the police department will also consult the police oversight commission annually to review the department’s hiring recruitment plan and propose necessary revisions.
Additionally, the police department will also develop a community engagement plan in consultation with the oversight commission and the DOJ’s Community Relations Service. It will also discuss with the commission on community outreach procedures to improve transparency and educate the community on the duties and responsibilities of police officers, the dangers of the job, and other issues involving investigatory stops, arrests, searches, and seizures.