![]() He leaves after only a year serving as interim and permanent police chief. The hearing comes two days after Ford, who is Black, made a surprise announcement that he would retire next month. But “they’re all unavailable, indefinitely,” he said. Mathew Martinez, a lawyer for one of the defendants, said the officers were subpoenaed so they could explain in court why they sent the texts. Credit: AP/Jane TyskaĬarmela Caramagno, attorney for one of the four suspects, argued that Ford's testimony was critical so the court could get a broad feel for the internal workings of the department and devise an appropriate remedy.Ĭaramagno said she also wanted to ask Ford why he signed off on declarations stating that five officers had suffered an “industrial injury” and could not appear, when an investigator for the defense had seen some of them looking “quite healthy,” “having pool parties,” and “walking briskly.” Racist police text messages containing slurs and images of gorillas will take center stage in a San Francisco Bay Area courtroom on Friday, July 21, 2023, as a judge weighs whether the messages violated a state law designed to stamp out racism in the criminal court system. Ford was not the police chief at the time the text messages were sent.Ĭommunity members listen to speakers during a rally at Antioch police headquarters in Antioch, Calif., on April 18, 2023. ![]() Most of the messages were sent in 20 and go far beyond the case up for discussion in court.Īntioch Police Chief Steven Ford was also subpoenaed to testify, but Goldstein ruled Friday he did not need to appear because his testimony was not relevant to whether officers showed racial bias or animus. In all, 17 Antioch police officers have been named for sending texts that discuss falsifying evidence and beating up suspects, that make racist and homophobic remarks, or that use sexually explicit language. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.
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