By Tony Hicks. Bay City News.
Steven Ford, the Antioch police chief addressing allegations of racism, condemned Thursday racist and homophobic texts circulated among dozens of Antioch police officers that were made public earlier this month as part of investigations by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.
"I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the racially abhorrent content and incomprehensible behavior attributed to members of the Antioch Police Department in media reports," Ford said in a statement.
"I have taken immediate steps to ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out by an external independent entity and that the community is not exposed to any individual questioned by this report," the chief noted.
At least eight Antioch officers were suspended last year during the ongoing investigation into civil rights violations and other police misconduct.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe said last week that "several" officers were suspended due to the alleged text messages. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Thorpe said the number of officers involved was as high as 24.
"On behalf of our organization, I apologize to the Antioch community for the damage caused by this hateful speech. I promise to hold accountable officers who express racist or bigoted beliefs, biased insensitivity and those who boast of harming members of the community," Ford explained Thursday.
Ford also thanked the researchers "for their work in helping us identify the disease of racism and other incompatible behavior within our ranks. We will continue to fully cooperate with their efforts as we take practical steps to restore community confidence in our organization."
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
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