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Antioch City Council approves plan to purchase police body cameras
By Chris Campos article
ANTIOCH, Calif. - The Antioch City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a $1.4 million contract to purchase bodycams and in-car cameras for the city s Police Department.
The five-year bodycam contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. was the leading proposal of Mayor Lamar Thorpe s platform of police reforms he brought before the council following the in-custody death of Angelo Quinto in December and another in-custody death in February.
Following the 5-0 vote approving the bodycam contract, Thorpe hailed the victory by saying, Ten years overdue.
Antioch police were one of the last Bay Area departments without bodycams. Police Chief Tammany Brooks said, I want to thank the council from the bottom of my heart.
Antioch police were one of the last Bay Area departments without bodycams. Police Chief Tammany Brooks said, I want to thank the council from the bottom of my heart. The Antioch police chief is refusing a family’s claims Tuesday that his officers’ use of force led to the death of their son. Jodi Hernandez reports.
Axon representatives said they hoped to have all Antioch officers and patrol cars equipped by August. The cost of the bodycam contract will be paid from the city s general funds reserve, according to City Manager Ron Bernal. Mayor Thorpe emphasized that the expenditure will not translate into cuts for police or other city programs.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe will bring his program of police reforms for another round before the City Council Tuesday night after the first discussion resulted.
In last year s election, Thorpe ousted incumbent Mayor Sean Wright, and Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts lost to Tamisha Torres-Walker. The vote count delivered an African-American majority on the City Council and a definite progressive swing to local politics.
In launching the discussion on the proposals, Thorpe emphasized the importance of bringing more transparency to police practices. Torres-Walker noted, Change is never easy … but the world is watching. What we are doing today is just the floor not the ceiling.
The council spent hours of the meeting airing public comments from hundreds of residents, minority activists and law enforcement supporters.