by John Glidden | glid24@protonmail.com | December 22, 2025
VALLEJO – After 24 years with Vallejo police, Lt. Shane Bower has left to become a police captain with the embattled Antioch Police Department.
The announcement came during the November 4, Antioch City Council meeting in which Bower offered up a quick remark.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for this opportunity to allow me to provide exceptional service to the citizens of this community,” he told the council.
Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker welcomed Bower to Antioch.
“Captain Bower, I just want to say that your family is very proud of you, and we believe you’re just as impressive as they do and I’m excited about working with you here in the city,” she told Bower.
His hiring comes as officials attempt to reform the troubled agency amid a scandal which found that half of the police force sent or received racist text messages. Last week, the department agreed to a police reform agreement to settle a 2022 civil rights lawsuit.
According to Antioch police Bower began his law enforcement career as a police reserve officer for the city of Walnut Creek in 1996 before becoming a deputy sheriff with Contra Costa County in 1997.
Two years later, he transferred to Vallejo PD “where he worked Patrol, Crime Suppression, Traffic, Internal Affairs, and was the Professional Standards Division Commander. He held several ancillary duty positions including Field Training Officer, Rangemaster, Hostage Negotiator, and SWAT Commander.”
Earlier this month, a federal judge dismissed a civil lawsuit from former Vallejo police officer Ryan McMahon, who alleged that the city improperly retained his personnel files, which ended up being leaked to the press, ultimately leading to him being ousted from the Broadmoor Police Department.
McMahon, who filed his lawsuit in September 2023, named Bower as a defendant. However, Bower was removed as a defendant in December 2023.
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