On Tuesday, Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando will report its Part 1 Crime statistics from January 1 through September 2016 compared to 2015. The data shows Part 1 Crime is down 1.2%. Arrests are also down by 3.4%.
According to the statistics, which compared the first 9-months of 2016 vs. 2015, the city had 7 homicide between January to Sept. compared to 5 homicides in 2015. Of the 7 homicides, only 3 have been “cleared” giving them a clearance rate of 61.5%.
The city has also seen a 15.8% increase in robbery when compared to this point last year with 235 cases—up 32 total. Aggravated assaults are down 4.9% with 312 total incidents.
The data shows that they have seen a 20% decrease in burglary (545 total incidents) while they have seen a 4% increase in theft (1,444) with a 3.4% increase in auto thefts (754). Overall, property crime is down 2%.
The city has also seen a 43% jump in arson’s going from 30 incidents last year to 43 in 2016.
Adult arrests saw a decrease of 3.5% while juvenile arrests decreased by 3%. Police reported they made a total of 3,574 arrests between January and September which is down 3.4%.
Through the first 9 months of the year, the Special Operations Unit has made 31-arrests and seized 18-firearms, 8 marijuana grows netting 2,478 plants and 12153.1 grams of marijuana. They have also taken 788.37 grams of meth, 189grams of Cocaine, 108 grams of Heroin, and 61.8 grams of Ecstasy off the streets.
Cantando also reported that in the 1st half of 2016, Priority 1 calls were up 1.9% while overall totals, calls for service were up 4.2%. They had a total of 65,728 calls for service. The average response time dropped 5-seconds to 9-minutes and 52-seconds.
Antioch saw an increase in traffic calls for service by 5.3% with a total of 1,444 calls with 5 fatalities and 159 total DUI’s. They also saw 1,016 accidents without injury (up 10.2%) with another 218 accidents with injury (-4.8%).
The data also shows its traffic abatement program where between March 1- Sept. 30, 2016 they have given 1,303 tickets while towing 655 vehicles.
The K9 unit had 105 arrests with 14 physical apprehensions.
Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando
On Sunday, we sat down with Chief Cantando who explained they are seeing a downward trend in crime and says the council and community are a big part of that.
“I am very happy to see the crime reduction for the last 3 ½ years. I think we have been able to reduce the crime because of the commitment of the officers, the citizens of Antioch and including our crime commission and neighborhood watch programs, and lastly the support of the police department has received from the Antioch City Council,” said Cantando.
Cantando says they have supported the police by giving them the funds from Measure C, as well as when the police department have come to the council for proactive details on a weekly basis the council authorized that.
“I believe that has been a huge factor in reducing our overall crime,” said Cantando.
He noted the council has also approved the new radio system which allowed them to encrypt radio traffic to allow officers to have secure communications and criminals cannot hear the response to crime which he said has been “huge”. New equipment has also been approved from vehicles, Tasers to handguns.
He also highlighted the councils been proactive with cameras.
“The Council has been proactive in the use of community cameras in which our first phase was the cameras being placed in the Sycamore corridor. Council is very eager to expand that camera system at different intersections and neighborhoods around Antioch,” explained Cantando.
Antioch Mayor Wade Harper addresses the community after a recent hate crime.
Cantando admits the council has not micromanaged the police department or inserted themselves into police business admitting it would be very easy for them to do, but says they understand their role on the council.
“One of the pleasures I have had in being the police chief is the council understands their role in setting policy. At no time have I felt that council has interjected themselves or try and run the police department in anyway,” says Cantando. “With that said, the council does have an interest in representing the community’s views and all of them at one point have suggested or recommended ideas from the citizens that they have received.”
Cantando says some of those recommendations included:
- the exchange zone for Craigslist type exchanges in front of the police department
- re-instituting our traffic division,
- getting a handle on the homeless-quality of life issues. As staffing rises, two officers will be dedicated to homeless and quality of life issues.
- Council has approved a contract for a vehicle abatement program to tow vehicles.
In the last four-years, the biggest change Cantando says he has seen with Antioch is more people are involved.
“With the hiring of more officers and more officers on the street, we are seeing more of a proactive police force, our neighborhood watch continues to grow which means the community is more involved. Many residents really are helping us reduce crime” says Cantando. “Between the council and the community, everyone has taken a more active role in reducing crime. The citizens of Antioch have demonstrated they support the police department and have stepped up. That attitude has transformed into crime going down as they became part of the overall solution.”
Police Staffing Levels
Chief Cantando also reported its current staffing levels which has 102 authorized sworn positions. Currently, they are at 93-full time positions. Since Nov. 1, 2013 the police department has seen a net gain of 11-officers after hiring a total of 41 with 30 total separations due to retirements, resignations or terminations.
Cantando did report that 1 recruit set to graduate the academy March 3, 2017. 2 Lateral police officers are also set to be sworn in Oct. 31, 2016. 4 additional lateral applicants are in various stages of the background process.
City Council Meeting
The Chief will provide his full report Tuesday evening at the Antioch City Council Meeting which will begin at 7:00 pm at 200 H Street, Antioch CA.
