The Antioch Police Department in California has agreed to work with a consultant to revise its policies and training following a federal investigation into alleged racist and sexist text messages shared by officers.
A San Francisco Bay Area police department currently under federal investigation for allegedly sharing racist and sexist text messages has agreed to bring in a consultant to overhaul its policies, procedures and training, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday. The DOJ previously launched a probe into the text messages shared among members of the Antioch Police Department between 2019 and 2022.
The heavily redacted text messages reportedly revealed inflammatory language, including racist, homophobic and sexually explicit remarks. Officers from the Antioch Police Department were found boasting about fabricating evidence and assaulting suspects. They referred to women using derogatory terms like water buffalo, circulated images of gorillas and frequently used racial slurs. Under an agreement announced Friday, the Antioch Police Department and the City of Antioch will collaborate with a DOJ-approved law enforcement consultant to revise and improve policies on nondiscriminatory policing, use of force, hiring, promotions and disciplinary practices. The controversial text messages exchanged by members of the department came to light in 2023 amid a federal investigation into the department's practices. 'The department launched its investigation after the public disclosure of discriminatory text communications that dozens of APD personnel allegedly exchanged between September 2019 and January 2022,' the Justice Department said. 'In response to the investigation, APD, the City of Antioch and the City Manager worked cooperatively with the department to reach a resolution agreement embodying a commitment to nondiscrimination in APD's policing operations and advancing its ongoing efforts to prevent and address discriminatory law enforcement practices.' Located 45 miles east of San Francisco, Antioch is home to 115,000 residents. Once a predominantly white community, the city has seen significant diversification over the past three decades
Antioch Police Department Racism Sexism Federal Investigation Police Reform
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