Today, Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando addressed the community with a social media post explaining what the Department is doing and has done to address an increase in violent crime since May.
Here is his what he said:
Many people have asked me what I and the police department are doing in response to the recent increase of violent crime in our city. Please afford me a few minutes of your time and allow me to respond to this very legitimate question.
If you attend City Council meetings, or come to one of my Coffee with the Cops presentations, you probably know that as of May 31st, violent crime in Antioch was down 19.7% compared to the same time period last year. As I write this I do not have the final crime statistics for June, but you and I both know there have been a number of violent incidents in our city. As such, I fully anticipate the 2nd quarter statistics will not paint as rosy of a picture.
There have been several reported shootings in Antioch so far this year, many of which took place in the Sycamore Drive area. During our investigation into all of these incidents, we have determined that many of them are gang and/or drug related. Even more of them have uncooperative victims! Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. Officers respond to a reported shooting, interview the victim (who may or may not have been struck by gunfire), and learn the victim refuses to provide any information to help in the apprehension or prosecution of the persons responsible for the crime.
Finding cooperative witnesses is also another challenge the responding officers face at these scenes. Sometimes, good law-abiding witnesses are afraid to give a statement for fear of retaliation. Other times, witnesses are friends of the victim and willingly refuse to cooperate. Not out of fear of retaliation, but possibly in hopes of delivering retribution in the form of another shooting at a later time. This mentality creates a cycle of violence, instilling fear in our residents.
In short, evidence suggests that most (but not all) of the people involved in our recent violent crimes, were targeted because of a lifestyle they choose to lead. They are not the typical victim who wants us to catch the persons responsible. They instead purposely lie or withhold information, sometimes in an effort to conceal their own indiscretions, and other times in hopes of dealing with the situation in their own way. Regardless, we continue to investigate these crimes and hope to hold the offenders responsible for their actions.
So, what is the police department doing to curb this violence?
- First and foremost we are working diligently to rebuild our ranks and increase the number of police officers working the streets and detectives investigating reported crimes. We currently have 88 sworn police officers, and are authorized 97. We also currently have several people, both lateral officers and entry level trainees, in various stages of the hiring process. We’ve hired three people who currently attending the police academy, and will begin their field training program after graduation. Feel free to scroll through prior posts on our Facebook page to see photos of the recent additions to our APD family.
- Many of our recent hires are lateral police officers from other agencies. This is beneficial in a couple different ways. First, the field training program is much shorter for laterals than for entry level trainees. Many of our recent lateral hires have already completed their training program and are already working at a solo officer capacity. Secondly, these are seasoned veteran officers who know how to spot and investigate crimes and other suspicious activities. They bring with them knowledge and expertise in areas of police work that benefit them, other officers, and the community as a whole. This knowledge leads to better investigative skills and arrests in cases possibly overlooked by less experienced trainees.
- With a limited number of officers, we really learned the value of seeking help from the public through Neighborhood Watch programs and other methods of public outreach. Even as our staffing levels increase, we realize we cannot be everywhere and see everything. Working in partnership with community members who care about our city and the safety of those who live in it will always be important to us. We continue to spread the word and encourage people to get involved.
- We continue to utilize technology to enhance our crime fighting skills. A patrol car equipped with Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras has increased our recovery of stolen vehicles and arrests of those driving them. Portable fingerprint readers have been deployed in the patrol cars, allowing officers to positively identify people who do not carry identification with them and lie about their name in an effort to avoid prosecution or arrest on outstanding warrants. We also post pictures and surveillance video from reported crimes on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, which have led to the identification and arrest of several subjects. We also implemented a tip line where people can anonymously text or email information about previously reported crimes.
- We’re taking criminals to jail! In comparing the first six months of 2014 to the same time period of 2013, adult arrests are up more than 11%, and total arrests are up almost 6%. This is obviously just a short term solution, and a much deeper discussion is needed to talk about rehabilitation and treatment. However, a person willing and desiring to engage in criminal activity in our city cannot do so while he/she is in custody. Plain and simple.
- I spoke earlier about our staffing, which is currently at 88 sworn officers. In case you didn’t know, Antioch is the 2nd most populous city in Contra Costa County. Concord, which is the most populous city currently has 148 sworn officers. Richmond, the third most populous city currently has 190 sworn officers. I don’t say this looking for sympathy. I’m saying it to put things in perspective. With our current staffing numbers, we can only staff critical assignments. Proactive and directed enforcement can only be accomplished by utilizing officers on overtime. We, have and will continue to, conduct several proactive details to target violent criminal activity. Again, scroll through our prior Facebook posts to see some of the great efforts being made by the talented and dedicated officers who have already worked proactive details on Sycamore Drive, D Street, and Cavallo Road.
Make no mistake, we are working tirelessly to stop the cycle of violence. Regardless of the challenges we face, I promise that everyone at the Antioch Police Department is committed to doing their part to make Antioch a safer community. The men and women of APD thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Chief Allan Cantando
28 comments
Thank you Chief. I find the numbers cited in your point #6 really disturbing. Not only for the good citizens of Antioch but for the police we have out there that are trying to KEEP the good citizens of Antioch safe. Unfortunately, while I appreciate the APD for all they do, I can’t help but feel it’s a losing battle considering all the tweekers, crackheads, meth monkeys, and the generic bottom-feeding thugs and criminals imported from other put-upon cities (i.e. Richmond and Pittsburg). I know not EVERYONE on Section 8 or some type of government aid are trouble makers, but let’s be real and forget about being politically incorrect…the majority of these “people” are professional scammers and moochers and the rest of us tax-payers are supporting their ignorant ugly asses. Don’t know what can possibly done at this stage of the game to turn that around. I will continue to pray for the safety of our men in blue…be safe and know there are many of us who appreciate everything you do.
Thank you! Is there money available from the government for gang and drug enforcement. Can we stop the state from placing those on probation in our city?
Thank you Chief. What can we do as citizens to URGE the City Council to hire more officers, after all ,we did vote for Measure C for the hiring of new officers.
I appreciate everything our police officers do in Antioch, but I think putting more officers on the street for traffic control, doing things like citing drivers for speeding, running red lights, driving with outdated tags, drivers using their cell phones, etc all help to bring down crime, and put money in our city coffers. I’ve sat next to police officers when there is a red light runner, etc and the officer did not do anything. Drivers know that they can get away with practically anything, and they will not get cited. I asked a APD officer about it and was told that they have better things to do. Antioch PD used to do what police officers are expected to do, and our crime was half of what it is today. You could afford to put more officers on the street if APD would enforce the traffic laws which in turn, would pay the salaries for these officers.
Cops citing a red light runner Meanwhile three tweakers are stealing a car from the gym parking lot, two crack heads are break dancing in the middle of Somersville forcing a three car pile up and two 14 year old kids are having a shootout over who owns the five yards of concrete in front of Peppertree putting a stray bullet into a three year old child of a struggling mother of four living in a one bedroom apartment working two jobs while her ten year old babysits her siblings. GET REAL LADY A RED LIGHT RUNNER IF YOUR SO FULL OF IDEAS I GOT ONE GO DONATE HALF YOU INCOME TO THE FORCE SO THEY CAN CATCH REAL CRIMINALS.
Thank you, Chief Cantando
I agree with Sandi. i have known people who are on section 8 , Working under the table, and collecting unemployment. It’s ridiculous. When they are caught dealing drugs or using a gun run them out of town back to where they came from.
Be careful Pat. Comments like that will have the criminal supporter on this website calling you a racist and gamut of crap about how section8 people are saints and that we should be forever in their favor because we get to pay for their houses and food.
They were born here. That’s what you all don’t understand. People don’t say I’m going to antioch we can rape and pillage in antioch. They were born here and grew up here and rob here get high here and murder here. Put some more programs on the streets for these kids that grow up in broken homes. Plant a dream in there heads help them find meaning in life the kids here have nothing to do and that is the problem.
Thank you Chief Cantando. I have several family members that are Police Officers in the Bay Area so I truly appreciate all you and your officers do to protect us but you can only do so much with your limited resources and the lack of cooperation from victims and witnesses. I greatly appreciate what APD does and is willing to do what is needed to keep us safe.
Thank you Chief. Unfortunately while the police are forced to deal with an undeserving and irresponsible element that is becoming the face of our town, the rest of us do without the support we need to prevent OUR neighborhoods from becoming the next Sycamore. A response to a phone call for services is delayed to the point of being moot if not initially being determined to be unworthy of attention. Evidently a bullet wound to a thug trumps dealing with a flop house full of drug using, drunken, ghetto happy neighbors..
Be careful, comments like that will attract the criminal supporters that peruse this website. They will call you a racist and make you feel like you owe it to them to get free housing and food.
It is an interesting commentary that Richmond has over twice the sworn officers than Antioch. I’m sure that the criminal element knows that Antioch lacks sufficient officers which makes the city a destination for these people. Since it will take some time before more sworn officers can be added to the force, other measures must be put into place. First of all, I would recommend a moratorium on new Section 8 renters*. Also, fining landlords who have renters that commit serious crimes or cause police response on a frequent basis. There has to be a crackdown on making Antioch attractive to the criminal element as the good residents are leaving to get away from the crime.
*Are there any stats as to what percentage of these known criminals from Antioch are (Section 8) renters?
after reading all this, i called the city of richmond and found out that their police budget is only 45% of the general fund.
ours is 73% !! for much less officers.
i strongly suggest that people take the time and read up on the public salary data, 2013.
How about criminal back ground check required by landlords on possible rebates all tenants 12 and over and then proof of all tenants passing before the state or government pays the check to the landlord that rents a shack for 1800 a month to a family of six because the state will give him 1650 of the 1800 landlords are just as negligent as the criminals renting.
Concerned, The criminals don’t usually sign on the lease, they get a girl friend to do it. A federal program probably will not put a moratorium in place for little old Antioch. Less than 10% is the stat you are looking for but it isn’t something we capture on our computers I understand.
We need to pass the Residential Landlord Tax in November to get the funds to enforce our code enforcement laws on the books. This will help. Plus it will give us the funds to create a collection department to collect all the fees etc this city has failed to collect for many years which will also help pay for police.
Now how about approving some CCWs for th responsible law abiding citizens of Antioch, such as I, a 26 year old single female living alone near Cavallo, and whos neighbor was robbed.
I am happy to hear that you are working to curb the crime,and I know sycamore is a problem, have you taken notice of cavallo? Prositution and drug dealing going on. I live near here and I am not happy about it. Would be nice to be able to close the mini marts or take their alcohol licenses away. Should get rid of the riff raft hanging around all day and night
Glad that a lot of effort is focused on sycamor but please also focus on the hillcrest lone tree area which seems to have continuously increasing crime. Thanks!
Thanks Chief for the update why the hard stance on law abiding citizens and not issuing CCW permits for those of us that love and shop in these areas. I have been born and raised all my life in Antioch and would like to ensure my safety and families safety while enjoying our beautiful city.
i strongly resent the idea that I am are responsible for any crime. the way victims are being blamed is outrages.
—Sometimes, good law-abiding witnesses are afraid to give a statement for fear of retaliation.—
you bet chief, i am afraid for my wife, my kids, my house, and myself etc, as a senior citizen the only message i hear from you is. having a 9 mm bullet in my tire scared the heck out of me. daily shootings and nothing is done scares me too.
“we’re understaffed, it takes 12 min before we get there” and so on.
i would like to see you addressing the city council and putting the blame where it is belongs. but please no more power points.
Karl you are way off base. Again you complain but do not want to get involved. I don’t see anywhere in that article that chief cantando says you or any other victims are responsible for the crime. He is only asking for you to do your part as a citizen.
first off, you don’t live here, so what do you care?
but let me respond to your “complain”
i may put my foot in my mouth, i may been way off, whatever….
if you want to get high on my postings, go ahead, make your day.
i am tax paying senior, live right in the middle of all this, i care about my street, my area, and my city. i don’t give a darn if there are hurt “feelings”
i want that our city council takes responsibility, that the council is taking action. i am tired of lip service, which we hear for many many years. people getting shoot left and right, getting killed, robbed, beaten up.
“doing my part as a citizen” ?
well, i do, what are you doing in antioch as a citizen?
Cheif, I know you and have the utmost respect for you and your officers. You have been put in a no win situation and I do not envy you. With that being said, time is up! We are constantly reading well written explanations as to what is wrong. We know what is wrong, we as a people not just the police department have let the scourge of our community take over parts of what was a beautiful city. Well it is time for us as citizens to take back what is ours. It is time for us as taxpayers to take back what we are paying for. No longer when the rude, self entitled I have the right to act how ever I want in public is going to be tolerated! Where does it say their right to act like an animal outweighs my right to be in a civilized setting in a resturant. Reginald we don’t need to be careful, we need to be heard! What I am talking about is not a race issue it is a mindset issue, if you have the low life mindset, the I am entitled mindset, the I am going to use the system mindset (which is done by all races in our world) then you are no longer needed in our community. I am all for assistance for the person who will use it to make themselves better, I am not for the the people that have used it like a family business generation after generation. We as a community need to do what’s right, we need to take back what is ours. They are living off of our hardwork and what is provided from our tax dollars.
The time for politically correct is up, it is now time for publicly correct! If they can not act correctly in public then they don’t need to be in our community! Seeing how the police are not, can not and will not be staffed to do so, then it is time we do so. No more sitting behind our computers complaining. TIME IS UP!
Ken, the Chief has a boss. He can only do as much as the city manager allows him to do. The city manager has bosses, the council. I suggest you take your concerns to the next council meeting and make them loud and clear because until all of you get your butts in there, to council meetings, you will get the same old thing.
The city council in this city has been the major problem for the past 20 years.
I moved here 30 years ago and the council wasn’t doing anything then and they don’t do anything now.They sit and listen cause they have to.They do nothing cause they want to.
Look at your beautiful waterfront downtown. Looks almost the same as it did 20 years ago except it is worse. How can that be well ask your city fathers.
Mike, under Mayor Freitas we had a full staff on the police force and crime was low. We had money, lots of money.. He also worked to get downtown moving but ran into road block after road block from the folks that own property downtown. I have lived here 50 years and remember shopping on Second street it was wonderful down there. Restaurants like Marchetti’s! Currently I hold no hope for this city.
Why aren’t Sycamore landlords and homeowners being made to clean up their homes? I drove through Sycamore, couldn’t believe how it has been allowed by the City of Antioch to delapidate into what it has become. There are so many people loitering at the end of Sycamore by “L” — two APD units were there just having to watch that group, what a waste? Why are they allowed to just hang out there and also that empty grocery store on Buchanan? It would help if you got rid of the loitering.
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