(KRON) – The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it has reached a five-year agreement with the City of Antioch and the Antioch Police Department regarding a racial discrimination investigation. The agreement follows an investigation into discriminatory text communications exchanged by dozens of Antioch police officers between September 2019 and January 2022. ‘White man’s world’: Sheriff’s attorney blasts her critics According to the DOJ, the investigation stemmed from a series of racist text messages that surfaced in 2024. Antioch PD called the actions that prompted the investigation “unacceptable.” The Antioch Police Department is being held accountable in two ways. One is criminally, with three former officers—Morteza Amiri, Eric Rombough, and Devon Christopher Wenger—facing trial this year on multiple civil rights violation charges. The other is civilly, through this agreement with the DOJ. Ben Nisenbaum, a Bay Area attorney who has handled police misconduct cases for decades, commented on the systemic issues. “It’s not like there was a flip that was switched, and everything was fine by the removal of a few bad apples. The whole punch was spoiled,” said Nisenbaum. His law firm represents 24 plaintiffs suing the Antioch Police Department. “These are all people who have been victims of police discrimination, excessive force. Some of them were people talked about and referred to very specifically, including horrific acts of misconduct like field goal kicking a person’s head,” Nisenbaum added. Much of this misconduct was revealed through a series of text messages sent by officers in 2020 and 2021. In total, 17 officers have been identified by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office as being under investigation. The DOJ agreement requires Antioch PD to hire an expert law enforcement consultant to review and update its policies, procedures, and training. According to the DOJ, the training will focus on non-discriminatory policing, use of force, hiring and promotions, investigations of misconduct, discipline, community policing, and other key areas. Additionally, the agreement “contemplates” a role for the Antioch Police Oversight Commission. Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, said, “A police department that discriminates based on race and other protected classes undermines both public safety and public confidence. Today’s agreement will help ensure that policing in Antioch is done constitutionally and will help restore public trust.” Ramsey added, “To make sure that they’ve got some of the latest and best practices so there is not discrimination in the department and also to update hiring procedures to make sure that the type of officers that they are hiring are indeed of the same right temperament, expertise and experience to police in a fair and impartial way that does not discriminate against race.” As part of the agreement, Antioch PD will undergo five years of data collection, reporting, departmental monitoring, and other provisions. The department must also review how it collects and analyzes demographic data to ensure transparency and accountability. In a statement to KRON4, the Antioch Police Department said, “Our collaboration with the US DOJ underscores our dedication to fostering trust, transparency, and accountability within our police department. Under this five-year agreement, we will implement and enhance comprehensive policies, practices, training programs, and oversight mechanisms to ensure that officers uphold integrity and fairness while addressing misconduct swiftly and effectively.” The department further stated, “We acknowledge that trust is earned, not given, and this agreement marks a meaningful step forward. We also remain fully cooperative with the California Department of Justice (CADOJ), which is conducting an independent pattern-and-practice investigation into the Department.” Nisenbaum said that while the agreement is a positive step, much more remains to be done. “There’s a lot more to be done. It’s a step in the right direction. There are two components. There’s an agreement, and there’s the follow-through on it. One of the issues is, this is the federal government, and we have a new administration coming in. I don’t know what effect that will have on things.” Nisenbaum also stressed the importance of auditing officers’ phones to monitor for any future discrimination or misconduct. “This will be a significant step or at least an early step in helping restore public confidence in the police in Antioch,” Ramsey said. Former Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said, “My term as mayor was focused on making Antioch a safer city by addressing the longstanding mistrust between the public and the Antioch Police Department. As a result of today’s agreement, I am proud to say that my administration has successfully achieved its objective of reforming the culture of racism that has plagued the Antioch Police Department for decades.” Current Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal told KRON4 that the agreement reflects the city’s commitment to addressing past failures and ensuring that unacceptable actions are not repeated. The investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.