“Justice Department Wraps Up Probe into Antioch Police Over Racist Text Scandal!”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has resolved its investigation into biased policing by California’s Antioch Police Department, sparked by racist texts allegedly exchanged by officers.
As part of the resolution, the city and police department have agreed to hire a consultant to review policies, officer training, and use-of-force protocols. The agreement also includes a framework for federal monitoring, stronger oversight, and the collection of data on police interactions for the next five years.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stressed that the department’s cooperation in implementing reforms sends a clear message that discrimination and misconduct will not be tolerated.
The Antioch Police Department expressed its commitment to the agreement, acknowledging the unacceptable actions that led to the investigation and promising to enhance policies, training, and community engagement initiatives.
The investigation was prompted by texts exchanged between officers from late 2019 to early 2022, which included racist and homophobic slurs, as well as a suggestion to use a “less lethal” weapon on the city’s Black mayor. The texts also reportedly featured bragging about excessive force and evidence tampering, leading to a 2023 report from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI.
The scandal sparked outrage, prompting civil rights lawsuits and calls for greater accountability within the police department.
The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its investigation into biased policing by California’s Antioch Police Department, following the revelation of racist texts exchanged by officers. These texts, which included homophobic and racist slurs, sparked widespread outrage and led to a federal review.
The city and its police department have agreed to hire a consultant to review policies, officer training, and use-of-force incidents, aiming to make improvements. A federal monitoring framework will also be implemented, including stronger oversight and the collection of data on police interactions for the next five years.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of the reforms, saying the department’s cooperation sends a strong message against discrimination and misconduct. The Antioch Police Department expressed its commitment to the agreement, vowing to implement enhanced policies, training, and community engagement initiatives.
The investigation was triggered by texts exchanged between officers from late 2019 to early 2022, including racist comments and even suggestions to harm the city’s Black mayor. The officers also reportedly bragged about using excessive force and tampering with evidence, prompting further investigations by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and the FBI.
The scandal led to civil rights lawsuits, the dismissal of a major case due to lack of trust in the involved officers, and the ongoing federal lawsuit filed by victims claiming their civil rights were violated. Eight officers were placed on administrative leave, and three were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to oppress residents.
While the Antioch Police Officers’ Association condemned the offensive behavior of a few officers, the case continues to draw attention to broader issues of accountability and police misconduct.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com