{"id":41636,"date":"2015-03-29T07:19:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-29T14:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eastcountytoday.net\/?p=41636"},"modified":"2015-03-29T07:43:36","modified_gmt":"2015-03-29T14:43:36","slug":"antioch-police-chief-explains-staffing-levels-and-hiring-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eastcountytoday.net\/antioch-police-chief-explains-staffing-levels-and-hiring-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Antioch Police Chief Explains Staffing Levels and Hiring Process"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are some grumblings going around the City of Antioch regarding police staffing levels with accusations that officers are not being hired quickly enough. Some are also questioning why staffing is not yet at 97-officers.<\/p>\n

In a recent opinion piece in another paper, a “watchdog” accuses the police chief and city council of making excuses as to why the staffing levels are not higher.<\/p>\n

With the passage of both Measure C (2013) and Measure O (2014), the city council made the promise that Antioch police staffing was to increase from 82 officers to 97 in 2015 and further increased to 100 by 2016.<\/p>\n

According to Hans Ho<\/strong>, Chair of the Antioch Sales Tax Citizens Oversight Committee, during the last City Council Meeting, he reported that the police department is getting all the funds as promised by Measure C with Antioch Police Staffing at 87-sworn officers and one per diem Police Captain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is 5 more officers than Antioch had in October of 2013 based on the information given to the committee. We were informed by the Chief of Police that hiring of qualified officers as quickly as needed is constrained by shortage of qualified officers and competitive demand by other cities. Attrition has been happening almost as fast as hiring,\u201d said Ho.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando<\/strong> said he believes the City is \u201cabsolutely\u201d fulfilling its promise to hire and that 19-hires to date are a reflection of the police department\u2019s efforts and the city\u2019s human resources department.<\/p>\n

According to Cantando, 19 officers have been hired since January 2014 and on April 13 they will be hiring a lateral police officer for a total of 20–a net gain of 6 officers from last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately I cannot control retirements and medical retirements.\u00a0 Also, we sometimes lose officers during the field training process,\u201d said Cantando.<\/p>\n

He noted that the hiring process is long because there are many variables that go into hiring an officer as well as finding the best possible candidates take time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hiring of police officers is a lengthy process,\u201d said Cantando. \u201cThe entry level applicant is required to apply, take a physical agility test, written test, oral board, background investigation, polygraph, medical evaluation and lastly a psychological evaluation.\u00a0 If they pass all of the above, they are sent to a 6-month academy.\u00a0 If they applicant successfully completes the academy, they must complete a 4-month field training program.\u00a0 If the applicant successfully completes the training program, they have completed all necessary training and requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that lateral officers are not required to take the written test, but all other testing is required.\u00a0 The lateral officer has already attended a police academy, and usually their field training program is 2-3 months.<\/p>\n

Although officers are hired, not all of them can make it through the process.<\/p>\n

“Applicants fail to show the written test, physical agility, or oral board.\u00a0 Some applicants lie on their applications, background, or polygraph examination.\u00a0 Some fail the medical or psychological evaluation.\u00a0Some fail out of the academy, others fail to successfully complete the Field Training Program,\u201d explained Cantando. \u201cWe have had officers resign because once they receive training in the academy or work the streets during the field training program, they realize they would prefer a different line of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cantando further highlighted that when looking at applicants, they look for qualified applicants that are intelligent, have character, honest, moral, enjoy working with people and good work ethic.<\/p>\n

Some in the community have suggested speeding up the hiring process of police applicants in order to bring up police staffing levels to get boots on the street quickly. Cantando rejects that idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will never just fill open spots for the sake of building staff. As a Police Chief and also a resident of Antioch, I believe the City has the obligation of hiring only high caliber individuals,\u201d explained Cantando. \u201cWe must hire quality individuals who will work and care for this community with the highest integrity.\u00a0 There are many examples In the media where police agencies filled officer hiring with individuals who did not meet the values of their organization and those agencies have suffered for their lowering of standards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Cantando did not provide examples of any instances of police officers behaving badly, news out of San Francisco recently <\/a>was that sheriff\u2019s deputies in the jail forced inmates to fight and gambled.. <\/strong>At least four deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.<\/p>\n

He says its important that Antioch hire officers that can represent the city well and further build public trust at all levels.<\/p>\n

Cantando on the next Police Chief
\n<\/strong>At this time, Cantando says has no timeline on retirement, but responded to recent comments by Barbara Zivica, <\/strong>a self-appointed community watchdog in another publication, who stated the Police Department should hire its next chief from the outside versus from promoting within.<\/p>\n

Cantando disagrees with her assessment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea how Ms. Zivica can make such a statement since she knows very little about the current Antioch Police Department. \u00a0\u00a0It is unfortunate that people sometimes comment on topics for which they have no direct knowledge\/understanding, but I have experienced this type of article\/story from Ms. Zivica many times during my career with the APD,\u201d said Cantando. \u201cI believe the APD has worked hard in the area of succession planning and there is exceptional staff within the agency to promote from within.\u00a0 With that said, the decision of who will be the next Chief of the Antioch Police Department lies solely with the City Manager.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zivica further accused the police department of making excuses in the hiring process.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not attempt to make excuses.\u00a0 I offer explanations.\u00a0 I believe my answers explain what we have done as a city as it relates to hires, while at the same time, \u201cexplain\u201d some of the challenges we experience in the hiring process,\u201d said Cantando.<\/p>\n

Cantando did note that if the next chief did get promoted from within, it would set in motion promotions at all levels throughout the department which is a moral boost.<\/p>\n

Timeline of Police Staffing and Hiring Plan Based on City Council Meetings: <\/strong><\/p>\n