Antioch close to filling police oversight positions

ANTIOCH  — In an effort to meet requirements in a deal between the city and U.S. Department of Justice, two members of the Antioch Police Oversight Commission were added Tuesday to the oversight body.

The Antioch City Council unanimously voted to reappoint Porshe Taylor, the commission’s former chairperson, to a three-year term that expires in 2028. Her previous term ended in November 2025. The council also approved the appointment of Josiah Ben-Oni Graham to fill a partial-term vacancy that expires in November.

Mayor Ron Bernal had recommended nominating Addison M. Peterson to fill a three-year full-term vacancy expiring in November 2028, but that nomination was put on hold as Peterson was not present during the meeting.

Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker recommended that the council hear from each candidate before making an appointment.

“I mean, it’s up to the council, obviously, but I would like to hear from each candidate before we appoint,” said Torres-Walker. “I’m just throwing this out there, maybe we don’t appoint Mr. Addison tonight until he can actually come to the council and speak to the public about why he wants to be appointed to the commission, and what he thinks he could add.”

According to the city, if approved, Peterson would fill a seat previously held by Commissioner Joseph Mitchell, whose term ended in November 2025.

The seven-member commission plays a pivotal role in overseeing police reforms required under a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Justice Department. The agreement requires at least five of the seven members to serve continuously for two years to ensure mandated reforms are implemented.

The deal was established following scandals and alleged criminal activities that have impacted the Antioch Police Department.

The commission faced instability in 2025, following the resignation of two commissioners.

In February 2025, Leslie May left following allegations of “several contentious interactions” with city officials, leaving the commission with only four members.

Although the City Council later appointed three new commissioners, trouble ensued in August 2025 when the oversight commission recommended removing a fellow member for “unexcused absences.”

The commission voted to remove Commissioner Treva Hadden for missing more than three meetings in the past 12 months without providing a reason.

Hadden subsequently tendered her immediate resignation, citing “limitations” that prevented her from fully contributing to the body’s mission. With Hadden’s departure, the commission was down to six members.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Bernal said Graham was an intern in the city manager’s office and did “an excellent job.”

“I consider him in the youth category, he’s under 25 years old,” said Bernal. “One of the desires of the City Council was that we were going to see more young people in positions of commissions and leadership.”

With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, Sacramento, Graham said he has had “positive encounters” with law enforcement but recognizes that others have had different experiences.

“I believe Antioch had an inflection point. I think we’re deciding what direction we want to take the city and what kind of community we want to be,” said Graham. “I like to represent the youth, who I believe there shouldn’t be anything about us, without us, and I think we need a meaningful seat at the table.”

Taylor, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Prison From-The-Inside-Out, explained her desire to remain on the commission.

“We got a new administration, we got a new city manager, and our commission has had several different people join and fall off during the time,” said Taylor. “I think the city deserves stability, and it would have been remiss for me to leave when we’ve just got to a place where we are finally making the change that the city asks for.”

The Police Oversight Commission was first introduced by former Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe as one of several proposed reforms in 2021, following FBI investigations involving the Antioch Police Department.

At the time, the City Council voted to appoint itself as an interim independent oversight committee with the possibility of forming a civilian-led commission at a later date. In 2022, a commission made up of residents was created.

In February 2024, the City Council appointed seven residents to serve.