Dr. Steve Ford Introduced as New Interim Antioch Police Chief

After announcing at a press conference last month that Dr. Steve Ford would be named Antioch Police Departments next interim police chief, Ford was welcomed in the Antioch City Managers bi-monthly update.

Tony Morefield, who had been serving as interim police chief after Tammany Brooks retired in September of 2021. Will return to his position as Captain. Chief Brooks had accepted the position of Deputy Chief in Boise, Idaho, a city of approximately 230,000 residents. Brooks serves as police chief for 4.5 years.

At the time of the press conference, the announcement came as three councilmembers were unaware the change was being made and no announcement has ever been made why the change occurred. In fact, the interim city manager Con Johnson actually sent an email firing Morefield before retacting the statement an hour later.

Ford will be tasked with rebuilding the Antioch Police Department who is down to 101 active officers even though they are budgeted for 115 officers plus another 6 with over-hires for 121. In terms of “active officers”, the department stands at 78.

After passing a background check, Ford was sworn in Monday.

Here is what was stated in the City Manager Report:

WELCOME CHIEF DR. STEVE A. FORD

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” Publilius Syrus As a former police officer, who honorably served 30 years in law enforcement and is currently serving the City of Antioch as its Interim City Manager, there is no greater honor and privilege than having both the benefit and opportunity of appointing a new Chief of Police. The Chief of Police is an iconic city figure who must be beyond reproach and possess impeccable personal character. With great humility, I would like to introduce Dr. Steve A. Ford as the City of Antioch’s newly appointed Interim Chief of Police. A very special thank you to Captain Tony Morefield who stepped in as Interim Chief of Police since October 2021.

Dr. Steven A. Ford, Ed.D, M.S., B.S., who recently retired from the San Francisco Police Department as a Commander, grew up in one of San Francisco’s crime-ridden and gang-infested communities, notoriously known at the time as the Ingleside-Oceanview district. His law enforcement background spans thirty-one- plus years with the San Francisco Police Department and has included assignments in Operations, Investigations, Administration, Special Operations-Homeland Security, and Professional Standards-Strategic Management Bureaus. Dr. Ford currently serves as faculty at San Francisco City College and San Francisco State University, where he instructs administration of justice courses and course work in the MPA program.

Dr. Ford holds an Associate of Sciences Degree from San Francisco City College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from San Francisco State University, a Master of Science Degree from California State University-Long Beach, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College-California. Chief Ford has attended the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigations, California POST Command College, California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker-Claremont Graduate University, POST Executive Development, San Francisco Leadership- S.F. Chamber of Commerce, and San Francisco Police Department Leadership Development Institute.

Dr. Ford considers his leadership and professional philosophy to be that of a contemporary leader who values the profession’s history, is focused on current challenges, and has a vision for the future of policing. Please join Mayor Lamar Thorpe, the entire City Council, and me in welcoming our new Antioch Police Department Interim Chief of Police, Dr. Steven A. Ford, to our beautiful city, where Opportunity Lives