Nine current or former police officers from Antioch and Pittsburg, California, have been charged in a federal corruption investigation, according to U.S. authorities. The investigation found evidence that the officers committed civil rights violations and fraud in an attempt to secure a pay raise. They are also accused of lying on reports to cover up the use of excessive force. The charges include wire fraud, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy against rights, and conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. Only three of the officers remain employed by the departments and were not on active duty. Arrest warrants were served in California, Texas, and Hawaii, with one officer still at large. The investigation also uncovered a racist text messaging scandal within the Antioch Police Department, with officers using racial slurs and making derogatory comments about African Americans and the recently retired African American police chief. Community activists are calling for real accountability and hope that the charges will lead to positive change in the police departments. The Antioch Police Department’s acting Chief Joe Vigil expressed his disappointment and emphasized the importance of holding police officers accountable. The Pittsburg Police Department stated that they had initiated a criminal investigation in 2021 and will continue to cooperate with the FBI and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
How are community activists hoping that these charges will lead to positive changes within the police departments in Antioch and Pittsburg
Nine current or former police officers from Antioch and Pittsburg, California, are facing federal charges in a corruption investigation, according to U.S. authorities. The investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting that these officers participated in civil rights violations and fraud to secure a pay raise. They are also accused of falsifying reports to conceal incidents of excessive force. The charges include wire fraud, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy against rights, and conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. At present, only three of the officers are still employed by the departments but are not on active duty. Arrest warrants have been issued in California, Texas, and Hawaii, and one officer is currently at large. In addition to the corruption investigation, the Antioch Police Department has been embroiled in a scandal involving racist text messages, where officers used racial slurs and made derogatory comments about African Americans and the recently retired African American police chief. Community activists are demanding accountability and hoping that these charges will bring about positive changes within the police departments. The acting Chief of the Antioch Police Department, Joe Vigil, expressed his disappointment and stressed the importance of holding police officers accountable. The Pittsburg Police Department has confirmed that they have launched their own criminal investigation in 2021 and will continue to cooperate with the FBI and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to address these serious allegations.
