The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that it has concluded its investigation into biased policing within the Antioch Police Department in California. The investigation was prompted by the discovery of racist text messages allegedly sent by officers, which led to significant public outrage.
As part of the resolution, the city and its police department have agreed to hire a consultant who will assess the department’s policies, officer training, and use-of-force incidents, providing recommendations for improvements, the Justice Department stated in a release.
The agreement includes provisions for federal monitoring, stronger accountability measures for the oversight body, and the collection of data regarding the department’s interactions for a period of five years.
“In working with the Justice Department to institute policing reform, Antioch Police Department sends a strong message that the discrimination and misconduct that prompted this investigation will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division in Friday’s announcement.
