Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe. File photo. Oakley Councilman George Fuller. Source: Facebook
“Mayor Thorpe was indicating he had placed the yoke of oppression on Antioch’s police officers and implemented what seemed an era of tyranny towards Antioch officers…Mayor Thorpe’s outlandish statements are politically motivated, and I believe he would use an Oakley officer as a pawn to advance his political agenda.” – Councilman George Fuller
Antioch Police Officers respond to Fuller’s remarks, take swipe at Thorpe
“The mayor’s constant attacks against our officers have always been unhelpful” – APD Sgt. & APOA President Rick Hoffman
NAACP President says “nothing inappropriate” about Thorpe’s comments; Antioch resident “embarrassed” by them
By Allen D. Payton
At the end of the Oakley City Council meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 24, 2023, Councilman George Fuller took a swipe at Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe not wanting to have Oakley Police Officers provide support to Antioch Police because of something Thorpe said at the recent MLK Day Breakfast hosted by the NAACP East County Branch. (See 1:50 mark of video)
Fuller spoke about the Antioch City Council and said, “Now, we stay on our side and I’m very happy. But there’s one thing that I’m very, very concerned about, and that is we have a mutual aid agreement with Antioch for our officers to go to the city to assist officers in that location to make arrests, put their lives on the line, and perhaps become involved in a…and I want to discuss what we can do to protect our officers. Because the way it was going was that if something happens over there, Mayor Thorpe is going to be very happy to say ‘well, our officers misbehaved’…and I don’t want to see their careers go up.”
“Our officers are trained. Whatever he says, our officers are trained,” Fuller continued. “I do not want my officers going over there and suddenly finding themselves in trouble.”
Fuller Shares Explains His Concerns About Thorpe’s Remarks
Asked what Thorpe had said at the breakfast that caused his concern, Fuller responded in an email writing, “Before going any further, I need to say that I find the East Contra Costa NAACP a viable organization that has worked extensively, and still does, to create homogeneous communities in East Contra Costa County that are diverse and inclusive. I am completing my membership request to become a member of the association.
I did attend the Martin Luther King, Jr’s prayer breakfast, sponsored by the East Contra Costa NAACP. I received an invite from Odessa LeFrancois, installed as president of the group during the meal. I am grateful that Ms. LeFrancois extended the invitation.
I represented the proclamation that the City Council of Oakley extended honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I did so at the behest of Ms. LeFrancois. The proclamation was the first to honor Dr. King by the City of Oakley City Council. The reception of the proclamation of those attending the breakfast was commendatory.
Mayor Thorpe followed my presentation. Mayor Thorpe’s first words were, ‘Some cities just give proclamations; in Antioch, we do something about it.’ The statement intended to insult Oakley’s proclamation. It was evident in Mayor Thorpe’s mind that the Oakley City Council gives a token acknowledgment of Dr. King’s legacy but fails to address systemic racism in Oakley. Yes, Mayor Thorpe’s rhetoric and hostile discourse are not valid.
Mayor Thorpe said he has solved racism in Antioch by ‘reining in the police’. Mayor Thorpe stated, ‘we have banned certain control holds that the police can use. We deny the police the use of military-grade equipment. We have created a police oversight commission.’ Mayor Thorpe was indicating he had placed the yoke of oppression on Antioch’s police officers and implemented what seemed an era of tyranny towards Antioch officers. Mayor Thorpe said that his efforts have resulted in a fifty percent decrease in murders in Antioch. Antioch residents did not suffer injustices from the police because of his actions.
Mayor Thorpe continued that there were three Black council members on the Antioch City Council. Consequently, Mayor Thorpe could implement his agenda, which favored Black lives in Antioch. Also, those who attempted to recall him from the council would experience consequences for trying to do so. In short, Mayor Thorpe marginalized Antioch Police Officers as a violent, out-of-control, racist organization, and he was protecting Antioch from the police.
Initially, Mayor Thorpe experienced polite applause for his statements. At the end of his lengthy monologue, he received no applause.
My immediate concern was the well-being of Oakley Police Officers. Oakley officers respond to mutual aid requests from the Antioch Police Officers when the Antioch officers confront an emergency that strains their safety resources. Mayor Thorpe’s statements indicate that he would have no qualms demonizing an Oakley officer for responding to a situation where lives were at risk. The threat to the officer, and the officer’s family, would be catastrophic. Mayor Thorpe’s outlandish statements are politically motivated, and I believe he would use an Oakley officer as a pawn to advance his political agenda.
I believe it is incumbent on the Oakley City Council to determine the threat to Oakley officers and take precautionary measures to protect them as they respond to mutual aid requests in Antioch. I am grateful that the Oakley City Council agreed (except perhaps one member who has publicly commented on my statements) to discuss the issue and reconcile any dangers to Oakley officers.
The Oakley Police Department offers extensive training on professional responses to critical safety issues and contains them with the least amount of force necessary to control the situation. The City of Oakley takes a course of providing adequate funding for the police department to be able to deliver professional police services properly. Oakley officers are aware of systemic racism, even in Oakley, and how to respond to such demagoguery ensures the well-being of all members of the Oakley inclusive community.
An example of Oakley’s professionalism occurred the night of January 15, 2023, the night before the NAACP breakfast; officers responded to a man with a gun in Oakley. Upon arrival, the suspect pointed a gun at the officer. The officer retreated, and the Oakley officers contained the area and called for a mental health team to respond to the location. The mental health team responded by convincing the suspect to surrender their weapon. The officers afforded the health services the suspect so urgently required. That is an example of the ‘true grit professional police services’ Oakley officers deliver. I will not allow those services to be ‘trashed’ by Mayor Thorpe.
I do not want to see an Oakley officer end their career by saving the life of an Antioch officer or Antioch resident and suffer a catastrophic tyrannical political outburst from the Mayor of Antioch, Lamar Thorpe.
I previously mentioned that Mayor Thorpe delivered similar statements at the Contra Costa Mayors Association in Hercules on January 5, 2023.
Hopefully, the above answers your request.
With best regards,
George Fuller, MPA, MA
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Antioch Police Officers Respond to Fuller, Take Swipes at Thorpe
In a message to the media on Thursday afternoon, also posted later on the Antioch Police Officers Association Facebook page, President and APD Sergeant Rick Hoffman wrote, “Earlier today, the APOA was solicited for comment regarding an Oakley City Council member requesting that the Oakley Police Department stop sending officers into Antioch after hearing remarks from Mayor Thorpe at an NAACP breakfast. As we said earlier, the idea of neighboring police agencies not assisting each other is deeply troubling. We recognize that crime has no borders and the best way to combat crime and keep the citizens of our cities safe is by everyone, police officer and citizen alike, to work together. APD has always and will continue to work with our neighboring agencies in times of need. We will always answer the call when they ask, and we hope they will do the same.
What we, as a POA, want to further highlight is the unnecessary and disparaging remarks that Mayor Thorpe makes on a routine basis towards the officers of APD. Mayor Thorpe claims that he has outlawed certain control holds and has mandated that our officers act in a certain manner. Not only is the claim that he has outlawed control holds inaccurate at best, but the further claim that his alleged efforts have led to a reduction in Antioch’s murder rate is a slap in the face to the hard work of the men and women of APD. Facing an unprecedented staffing shortage, our officers work diligently to solve these crimes amidst one of the most tumultuous times ever faced by our department. The mayor’s constant attacks against our officers have always been unhelpful but we wish to highlight that his comments are now also dangerous and putting officer’s lives at risk. For his comments to cause other cities to entertain the idea of no longer assisting our department is alarming and we call on the mayor to exercise caution and restraint when speaking about our officers.
We would also like to recognize that we have always had, and plan on continuing, a great working relationship with our neighboring agencies. Specifically, we appreciate the ongoing support we receive from the Oakley, Pittsburg, and Brentwood Police Departments.”
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NAACP President Responds
“I don’t know what they’re talking about,” Odessa LeFrancois, Antioch resident and recently elected President of the NAACP East County Branch said when reached for comment regarding Thorpe’s remarks. “As far as what I know, Lamar didn’t say anything inappropriate at the breakfast.”
Antioch Resident and Breakfast Attendee “Embarrassed” by Thorpe’s Remarks
Antioch resident Velma Wilson, who also attended the breakfast, disagreed with LeFrancois and confirmed Fuller’s views on Thorpe’s remarks.
“The Oakley Councilmember presented a proclamation of being more active with organizations like the NAACP and spreading the message of Dr. King. The councilman had a service animal with him,” she said. “Thorpe wasn’t on the program. It was toward the end of the meeting. But then he went on this rant about Black people and that although we are in Pittsburg our city is the most of diverse.”
Wilson continued saying Thorpe said, “‘We aren’t just typing up a resolution to sound pretty we’re actually putting into action our work. I’m proud of the work of the three Black council members and we’re not going to stop.’”
“He also said, ‘I know we have a recall proponent in here,’” she said referring to her.
“‘In East County we are the city holding our police officers accountable and we are the council, and I reiterate, a majority Black council that made sure we had body cameras on each of our officers.’” Wilson recalled of Thorpe’s remarks.
“MLK, yes, he fought for civil rights, but for all,” Wilson stated.
“A lot of people were checking out and getting up. He went more on a racial thing,” she continued about Thorpe’s remarks.
“Even (Pittsburg Mayor) Shanelle (Scales-Preston) was ‘how do you say, you’re in Pittsburg, you’re at MLK Junior High on MLK Day, and you say Antioch is the best’?” Wilson stated. “I was embarrassed as an Antioch resident.”“Lamar thought he had an audience that would cheer and clap for that crazy speech. He may have had three people clap for him,” she added.
Thorpe Does Not Respond
The mayor of Antioch was asked via email Wednesday if he had any comment on his remarks at the breakfast, responses to Fuller’s comments and the APOA’s statement and about the mutual aid between the two police departments. But Thorpe did not respond.
It’s unfortunate that there’s obvious rifts between some of the adults at the event. Serve, Honor & Protect, all citizens, equally without bias. The mutual agreement to help neighboring PDs have been a good agreement, and inferred comments & clash of personalities to threaten an agreement that proceeds those mentioned in this article, isn’t smart. It could be deadly. There’s a lot packed into the councilman’s comments.. Not sure how his pending membership has anything to do with Thorpe’s comments. Guess that can be attributed to the journalist’s writing of his story-cleverly unpacks some things comes off biased, but this might be my over reading this . Why wasn’t the Antioch Mayor on program and VW’s comments relevant? Surely, it was a miscalculation on the host’s part not to include him, but why was he excluded and Fuller’s rant given so much ink? The journalist mentioned it and left it unexplained.? The “why”, rather than the female, that apparently has it in for Thorpe, should’ve been written about-excuse me if I’m wrong?! Could there be some underlying sentiment between the Councilman & Mayor? Should the citizens of both cities be penalized if there is??? Oh, I guess it’s time to weigh in as an Antioch resident of 20+ years. Racism & accountability sensitive and avoided subjects that even some politicians have a hard time discussing honestly. Some show good intentions and some, mostly Black, politicians have to take a hard line and yes, they trip up. The status quo IS NOT what citizens are willing to tolerate and the push back comes in many ways. The police are the “people’s” guardians and should operate as such and make it home to their families safely at the end of the day. It’s a tough career and majority of your citizens appreciate THEIR PDs. The people’s PDs! LeFrancois, congrats on the appointment and perspective.. Resist those that would use you as a pawn to keep the status quo which has made the NAACP a relic of times past. May our leaders continue to collaborate and work for a more tolerant and brighter future for ALL citizens’ well being and safety.
READING THIS ARTICLE MAKES ME PROUD AND HAPPY TO BE A RESIDENT OF ” BRENTWOOD WHERE POLITICS TAKES A BACK SEAT AND PEOPLE Are IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT!!
I have lived in Antioch since 1965…I have seen crime escalate to the point of wishing I had left here ýrs ago. Unfortunately I am to old and can’t afford to.. one thing I do know is that this current mayor and city council with there anti police rhetoric and soft on crime is the worst we have ever had.. let’s vote people out next election..
Mayor Thorpe is racist he does not support the Asians, whites, Hispanics & other races in Antioch except the black community. He was raised by a Hispanic family shame on him. He & Torres- Walker do not represent all of Antioch only their race. Wilson has no choice but to stuck with him because she too is black so he demands she be a follower not a leader.
Shame on those in Antioch for not recalling Thorpe & Walker Torres they allowed our community to continue to be a disgrace. Theft & shooting are still occurring in the Sycamore area the small shopping center continues to have drug sales daily. APD is doing the best the can with limited officers. Use of any force only takes place when a criminal fails to comply when asked to follow commands from the police.
Thorpe lied about his DUI, his sexual harassment & Walker-Torres lied about her sons arrest & the party disturbance @ her home. Both do not lead by example. I’ve lived in Antioch 45 years & can say this is the worst City Council we have ever had.
It’s funny because if you watch the KFRC pod cast that Thorpe did you hear him speak about how he never claimed being black until he started running for office. He had always claimed to be Mexican. He also speaks about why he was born in prison. He found it hilarious that his mother car jacked and pistol whipped a WHITE DUDE! I live very near Walker and her kids terrorized the neighborhood on those dirt bikes for months! All Thorpe and Walker have done for Antioch is make it possible for criminals that look like them to be able to do their crimes without any fear. You can’t even drive down peppertree because of all the people running up to cars selling drugs.
Mayor Thorpe is an embarrasment.
A.P.D. has been the target of unwarranted abuse from the Mayor and a certain city council member for doing nothing more than enforcing the law.
If any racism exists in this town, its coming from the so called leadership and not the rank and file.
My family had come to Antioch in 1949. It was a beautiful city & everyone knew each other. Lots of your aunts & uncles lived here as well. We felt safe. We could walk everywhere without fear. There were lots of backroads & hills to climb. There was no freeway. Our simple town had what we needed. We slept out on our front lawn at night in the summer with a blanket to sleep on, a pillow & a light blanket in case in cooled. By morning. As the town grew we still felt safe in knowing where we went we would be safe. Our dads worked at the many mills that were around at the time. Some of our moms worked as others were at home. I was here as the town grew & worked here as well. Raised my children here & they grew up & raised their children here as well. The city has grown up so much the safety feature of it & the people who have moved here from other locations have took that simple little town away from us. Some of them are on the City Council at this time. How terrible for our beautiful city & our precious Antioch Police Force.. I am so very upset that these 3 people that have taken Antioch is not helping us. It hurts us all who live here. When Voting time comes please help get them out so Antioch can get on with business & get some things done. Maybe Antioch can stop being embarrassed by what is happening here!
Antioch is the laughing stock of the county because of Thorpe, Walker, and Householder. Our city is a criminal free for all and less safe than it has ever been and I’ve been here since 1955.
These people are an embarrassment to us all and we need fresh viewpoints to change this mess that is the city of Antioch.
Mayor Lamar Thorpe and his 2 single vulnerable misguided intimidated female followers are the reason Antioch’s reputation is at it’s worst ever and the stigma grows worse every day. Vote Out “The 3 Dissolute Racists”
I HAVE LIVED IN ANTIOCH SINCE 1985 ANTIOCH IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO LIVE CRIME IS RAMPANT . DISRESPECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT APD IS BADMOUTHED BY THORPE AND HIS RACIST ALLIES THE MOVED IN FROM ANTIOCH TO SHOW THE WORLD HOW THEY RUIN COMMUNITIES. ANTIOCH IS A GHETTO NOW WITH CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS QUIT BASHING THE POLICE AND LET THE COPS KEEP THESE HORRIBLE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND QUIT ELECTING ANTI POLICE POLITICIANS
ANTIOCH HAS BECOME A HAVEN FOR CRIME HATE THE POLICE SYCAMORE DISTRICT IS THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM JUST BLOCKS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE PARKING ING THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET GARBAGE AND HOMELESSNESS JUST BLOCKS FROM THE ANTIOCH HIGH SCHOOL WHERE LOW LEVEL CRIMES START, SYCAMORE HAS ALWAYS HAD A REPUTATION BUT NOW ITS GETTING DANGEROUS QUIT BASHING THE POLICE THORPE AND CODDLING CRIMINALS
THORPE MUST GO
I can’t believe what I am reading. So much divission. How do these politicians expect to better our communities if they can’t be a example them selves? What you all need is God and prayer….. I see alot of fustration and everyone has good points. But while your all fighting power trippin there are those dieing out here. United We Stand Divided We Fall……
Oakley needs a upgrade. At least the Mayor of Antioch will speak up.I dont even think the Mayor of Oakley has a Facebook page to keep the community updated .