Police department making progress in Antioch agreement with DOJ, official says

"Manjit Sappal, a consultant jointly selected by the Department of Justice, the city and the Antioch Police Department, said during an update to the City Council on Tuesday that some timelines in the agreement have been shifted due to a delay in appointing a consultant. Sappal, who is tasked with reviewing and updating policies to ensure the department is in compliance with the agreement, was appointed in May."

""I think it's also important to remember that what we're trying to do here is not just to check these boxes off, it's really building a sustainable culture with the police department, and that takes time," said Sappal. He said the change in Antioch is "going to happen a little faster than normal" as the police department and the city are channeling their resources needed to ensure that."

"One of the requirements of the agreement pertains to policies, directives, and training, which are being reviewed by the police department with robust input from various parties, including the California Department of Justice, Sappal said. Some of the policies under review focus on high-priority policies such as use of force, bias-based policing, and canine policies. Once the policies are approved by the working group, they will be passed to Antioch Police Department Chief Joe Vigil for input."

Nearly nine months after signing an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Antioch is pursuing steps to achieve compliance while adjusting several deadlines. A consultant jointly selected by the DOJ, the city and the police department was appointed in May to review and update policies. Some timelines for community engagement, department self-assessment, and language access plans shifted due to the consultant appointment delay, and the Department of Justice has been informed. Emphasis is on building a sustainable police culture rather than mere checklist compliance. High-priority policies and a multi-step approval process are underway with input from multiple agencies.

Read at The Mercury News