Mayor Lamar Thorpe listens to speakers during a special City Council meeting at City Hall in Antioch, Calif., on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
ANTIOCH — Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe now says his city needs $500,000 in funding to seek longterm assistance from outside law enforcement agencies to deal with surging gun violence in the Sycamore corridor.
Last week, Hernandez-Thorpe said he would ask the Antioch City Council for $100,000 to put an end to the string of shootings that totaled more than a dozen in September. That amount, however, would “probably would only give us about a month” of funding to cover overtime costs for officers from other agencies, he said Tuesday evening.
“So I am going to ask the council for half a million dollars so that it’s a multi-month effort,” said Hernandez-Thorpe told this news organization.
He did not reveal details on the ongoing talks with outside agencies, but said the discussions have been “positive.”
Interim police Chief Brian Addington, meanwhile, is in the early stages of discussions with several law enforcement agencies for longterm help to patrol a mile-long corridor north of Highway 4 that includes Sycamore Drive, Mahogany Way, Peppertree Way and L Street.
“We’re not far enough along in discussions to say for sure which agencies, if any, will commit to helping, but I’m optimistic,” Addington said.
So far this year, there have been 22 shootings in the Sycamore area, including 15 in the month of September, police said. The surge of September violence began with the killing of 21-year-old Elijah Scales, who was shot on Peppertree Way on Sept. 2.
Police said 12 of the 15 shootings committed last month were in retaliation or related to Scales’ death, with some involving “gang war” undertones.
Outside police agencies have sent officers to help the Antioch Police Department with incidents requiring immediate assistance, but Addington said longer term help is needed until the APD increases its staffing levels.
As of August, the APD had 73 out of 115 authorized officers’ positions filled, following the termination or departure of several officers either charged or indicted with crimes related to a widespread police misconduct investigation or for participating in racist, homophobic and sexist text message sent among officers. Some officers remain on leave for other reasons.
One option is the California Highway Patrol, who last year “sent out officers to help on three occasions” after Antioch requested assistance, Addington said.
A spokesperson said the CHP has always maintained a presence in Contra Costa County along with all Bay Area counties, where they patrol freeways and properties owned and controlled by the state.
“When an official request for mutual aid is received by the state, and approved, the CHP may be utilized to supplement law enforcement responsibilities within the allied agency’s jurisdiction,” CHP said in a statement.
Originally published at Hema Sivanandam