PALMDALE – Captain Bobby Denham formally introduced the Palmdale Station’s new Community Advisory Committee Thursday.
Its members are Chris Johnson, Kamal Al Khatib, Art Furtado, V. Jesse Smith, Lilia Galindo, Sandy Corrales-Eneix, Emmett Murrell, and Bishop Henry Hearns. The newly formed eight-member committee will work to enhance the communication and trust between the Palmdale Sheriff’s Department and the Antelope Valley.
“They have a tremendous amount of credibility and influence throughout the community and they will be able to bring me feedback from the community, what people may perceive good, bad or indifferent,” Capt. Denham said. “And things that the community would like to see or concerns that they might have so we can address that specifically.”
Corrales-Eneix said she has been sharing her ideas with the captain for 20 years, and this is just a formalizing of that relationship.
“I think if I had to pick one reason why this committee excited me, it’s the ability to engage the public and make sure they feel they are 100 percent part of the process and part of the decision making,” Corrales-Eneix said. “The give and take that the community can engage in with this committee is important.”
Corrales-Eneix said she thinks it’s important for residents to feel that their opinions matter and are valued. The more frequent the communication exists, the easier it is to establish trust, she added.
“When I think of what our captain is doing here, he is really walking the walk when it comes to open door policy,” Corrales-Eneix said. “A lot of people like to talk about that, but he is putting some of the chattiest, opinionated people in the Antelope Valley together for one common cause.”
Hearns, a 50-year resident of the Antelope Valley, said he has established a connection with residents through his time as a pastor and his time as Lancaster mayor.
“I think I can form a bridge across the two cities and throughout the community,” he said. “To let people know that the Sheriff’s Department of Palmdale cares about your safety and about what you want.”
Denham said the Community Advisory Committee is a long term commitment.
“We’re not going to just set up and tackle one or two issues. We’re going to tackle issues as they come up,” he said. “There have been concerns about minorities throughout the Antelope Valley and how they’re policed, and we want to put to rest those concerns… the Sheriff’s Department provides protection equally throughout all races and genders.”
He added that there seems to be a disconnect in the community regarding the Sheriff’s Department’s mission.
“We need to communicate better both ways, and having people who have the ability to do that work with me on a personal basis is certainly going to help bridge any communication issues,” Capt. Denham said.
Kamal Al-Khatib said being on the committee will allow him to do two things that he loves: solving problems and helping people.
“This committee is going to represent the whole community and the relationship between citizens and the sheriff’s department, and we consider ourselves to be ambassadors of peace,” he said. “We’re still a small community, but we’d like to think we’re still a big family.”
Building trust with residents as well as advising the captain on how to adopt newer policies while bringing the same results without casualties is what Al-Khatib said he hopes to accomplish.
The committee will meet once a month at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station, but the meetings are not open to the public, Capt. Denham said.
“By meeting with me, they’re going to provide me with input from the community in large as well as they’re going to get information from me which can be disseminated out in the public,” he said.
There will be town hall meetings in the future where questions and concerns from residents will be addressed, Denham added.
More on members of the Community Advisory Committee:
* Chris Johnson has served as Senior Pastor at Grace Chapel for 12 years and been an educator at Desert Christian Schools for nine years, six of those years as the high school principal.
* Kamal Al Khatib has lived in the Antelope Valley since 1989 and is the founder, board president and executive director of the Guidance Charter School in Palmdale.
* Art Furtado has had a 54 year career in the radio/broadcast industry, and was an instrumental part of groundbreaking broadcasting in the Antelope Valley, including the first classic rock station, first Hispanic radio station and the entire automation of radio station protocols.
* V. Jesse Smith is an ordained minister, labor leader and community activist at heart, serving as co-founder of The Community Action League, executive board member of the Antelope Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, executive board member of the Antelope Valley’s NAACP, executive board member of The Emmett Murrell’s Boys and Farm Home and Associate minister at Solid Rock Bible Church.
* Lilia Galindo, a small business owner of Cafe con Leche, is also the Director of Unincorporated Areas for the League of United Latin American Citizens, a member of the Democratic Club of the High Desert, a member of the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force and a former Director of the Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
* Sandy Corrales-Eneix, a Palmdale School Board member for over a decade and currently responsible for 24 school sites and 21,000 students, has been active in numerous community organizations, including the Palmdale Women’s Club, PTAs, Antelope Valley Board of Trade, the League of Women Voters AV, and is the former City Planning Commissioner and President of both the Palmdale and Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
* Emmett Murrell, the Founder and current CEO and Director of The Emmett Murrell’s Farm and Boys Home, has served as Chairman of the Board of Black Infant Health, Director of Youth Employment for the Los Angeles Urban League and Special Project Coordinator for the Southern Area Boys Club. He is a current member of The Community Action League and Elder/Minister at the Living Stone Cathedral of Worship.
* Bishop Henry Hearns, who served in the U.S. Army in Korea, has been in the Antelope Valley for over 45 years serving on the Lancaster City Council, as Vice Mayor and Mayor, as well as being involved in boards and committees such as United Way, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Housing and Urban Development Community Development Act Board, American Cancer Society, Advisory Board for the Boys and Girls Club, and Program Sponsor for the Antelope Valley Black Infant Health Program.
Valerie says
Palmdales naacp…lol yeah rt.yes we have a big miscommunication with the sheriffs dept. And the minorities in the av becauase palmdale sheriffs abuse thier authority shooting killing kids,5_6 cars for 1 person,beating a single mom in her home saying that they were going to kill her to her kids this av is something else and rex perris is a raciast sob talking bout this is his town and he agrees wit da raciast cops talking bout they can keep shining the lights in thier eyes til them cockaroaches leave his city thats why he has prostate cancer and he is a hot mess
Diana Beard-Williams says
Stupid Ace, Hearns and I, Diana Beard-Williams, do not even speak because I do not see him as a man of God. I believe him to have been the third vote on a corrupt Lancaster, CA city council for many years. Ace, you are simply a wannabe with limited intelligence, insight, and knowledge.
Gladdis says
I wondered if I was the only one who remembered Henry Hearns was Mayor when this town went in the crapper. Seems to be a contradiction to include him in a fight against crime now, when he is responsible for so many of the people committing the crimes being here.
Rex is like the Wizard of Oz. He says and does anything he wants and then does everything he can to make it look so.
I think any investigations done internally will not dig very deep. They don’t want to incriminate the friends that held office before them.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
All religions have been tainted ! Human rights violations have been committed under the disguise of religion and/or attributing the falsehood
to God. There are sects in Islam over the centuries confirm their rule
based on blood line or being descendents of the prophets. They believe
that only the blood line of the prophet should be keepers of the Kaba!
I have met people who were quich to exalt the tribe they were from to
bring home the message that they were either closer to the prophet and/or
more entitled to leadership roles than anyone else!Yes,you were welcomed
to be acknowledged as a muslim but with the understanding you were to
stay in your place! The similiar attitude of the African American slave experience!
The relgion of Al-Islam was taken over by dynasties,and so called royal
families!Look at the slaughter being committed in the name of Al-Islam!
The abuse of religion all around the has taken place for centuries! Those
who professed to follow christ twisted the scriptures to establish
white supremacy;white chosen people,white God and white angels! The
bible was used to establish black inferiority!
Jews ,christians and muslims all did the same exact thing to establish
race supremacy,tainting,color coding and twisting the pure teaching
of the prophets. As we know Muslims,christians and Jews come in all
colors but white supremacy was used to divide the race!
Thus the arab thinks he is superior to all others based on his trib,
ethnicity and nationality. The same applies for the jews. This is why
it is so difficult for everyone to come together because the religions
are tainted with race superiority! The arab muslim mentality is no
different than the western christian mentality! All the prophets pure
teachings was diluted.
It should be clear that racism or sickness is not confined to anyone
religion,race,tribe,ethnicity or nationality ! Arrogance,conceit,or play
on racial superiority crosses the pigmentation of one’s skin!
If we intend to make a difference we must look beyond the surface into
our various belief systems to get to the root causes of conflict.
Slavery was just a physical experience,it was also spiritual,psychological,
emotional and mental indoctrination! Islam is not the Islam prophet
Muhammad brought,christianity is not the teachings christ brought and
the on going senseless violence isn’t the teachings Moses broght!
There is enough sickness and extermism to go around the board!It should
be seen as an even playing field because there is no saithood in the
atroscities we are witnessing around the world! It is unbelievable
how religious people can be sointolerable toward one another !
How can anyone claim to protect our rights when entire countries and
women are being denied their voting rights and full participation in
society/government? Yes, we need a discussion of human and civil rights
for all regardless of race,religion,ethnicity or gender!
The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! The Qur’an say’s if God was to punish a people for their sins no one
would be left ! None of us ! That includes me,saved by grace ! From
this position we should all be willing to work toward correct society.
I realize straight talk like this create waves and certain people start
to shiver and distance themselves from the truth! Why ? Politics,favortism,
and to maintain the staus-quo! To create a meaningful harmony someone
must be willing to lay the facts on the table! I am at peace. I am
emotionally fortified against hatred and rage. Thus, I am willing
to bring to the table the issues at hand! You are invited the around
table wherein humanity can sit down together in peace,love and harmony.
Everyone is welcomed and everyone is invited: Public speaker Abdul Majeed
Askia,323-945-9589 Pastor Gerry Mitchel 661-212-5464 email,abdulaskia@
yahoo.com….Around table.April28thfrom1:pm to6:pm 348 E.ave.K-8 suite 8
lancaster,Ca.
Rushing says
Well said. Thank you!!!!!
Valerie says
I agree with some of the things you said and some I don’t me I’m a christian to be a christian is to be christ like religion is religion I’m. Not knocking ur beliefs but I know my god and he is my king I know my god and I have trails but my friend. I know my god he saved me when I was. Facing a. Life sentence. Through my trails I count it as pure joy because my blesssing is on its way
Jo says
Ace has a good point on this. Any and all civilian panels should of taken a representative from EVERY community, including but not limited to Lake LA, Littlerock, Pearblossom, Antelope Acres, etc. Although having a couple of reps from local churches is fine, but if this is truly going to be community based, then EVERYONE in the community needs to be represented.
Stinger says
Now that is a fair concern, Ace. I, too, would question whether Hearns should be on this committee on a similar basis of objection.
Wpayo says
There are four Baptists on this committee and one Muslim. Yeah that sounds like “diversity” to me! The two largest faith communities in the AV are Catholics and LDS. Or how about going the opposite way and not appointing anyone who is a leader of a church or a mosque to be on the committee! I thought we were a secular republic not a theocracy?
Stinger says
Tell that to your boss, Parris.
Stinger says
Ace, did you get your PI license from a Cracker Jack box?
James says
Getting that license is like getting a California ID.. you sign a paper, take a picture, and just like that you’re a pet detective!
Stinger says
LOL! Now Ace says that I am DBW? Wow. The ‘great detective’ strikes out again.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
The best advice I could possibly give anyone is do the best you can to
stay on the straight path. That is, stay away from crime, watch your
steps and don’t sleep walk! Meaning, pay attention to the life style
you and your associates are living.Even when you aren’t doing anything
negative but everyone else is that you hang around with is doing wrong
you can still get caught up !You find yourself taking a chance with
negative associates because all you want to do is have a litle fun and
before you know it law enorcement is on the scene ! Been there done
that!Fun turns into a tragedy,lving life in the fast lane,taking wild
chances with your life!
The root of my past problems was my personal rebellion! However,at
the time I only wanted to have a little fun,take daring chances. Back
in the day you could run from a officer and not get shot. How do
I know ? As a youngster my friends and I ran from officers because
we thought it was fun !Yeap, in my teenage years my friends and
I thought it was fun to out run the police! Well, times have changed
and my advice to you is ‘do the right thing !’
There is always going to be good and bad,right and wrong, balanced and
extreme behavior among people.Take charge of your life so that you
want need a special panel or commission to reside over a case because
in most cases it will take a miracle for you to get out of the loop!
James says
[Flagged for inflammatory content and removed]
James says
[Flagged for inflammatory content and removed]
Abdul Majeed Askia says
Folks I would simply advise you not to get caught up in the loop! I have
lectured across country and taught in prisons and youth facilities and I
here to tell that most of this stuff is riged!Yes,riged!!! I have watched with my own eyes guards crying the blues because certain jail facilities
were about to be closed down because they would have to relocate,lose their
family insurance,be laid off or fired ! Do you think that once this
billion dollar prison industries are opened that there is a desire to close
them down ? Haven’t you read how some communities desire prisons built
in their areas because it would create employment? Don’t you know for the
prison industry the ‘human being’ is the commodity ? Once a five hundred
or a thousand bed facility is built they need those beds filled at thirty
five thousand a head ? Yes,just like hearding up cattle and branding them
just like live stock! I chose not to be on any of these committies so
that I could be at liberty to lay on the line because nine out of ten
most don’t want to step on anyones toes ! All most want to do is shine
in the bright light of celebrity status! Warning,do not get caught up
in the loop!!!
I read an article concerning zero tolerance;how can you have zero tolerance
with cascino’s,night clubs,liquor stores,porn shops,and all the entrapments
that lure people in like a fish out of water!? Thats why jail houses call
people fish because they were like suckers who went for the bait on the
hook!!!
I am not on anyone’s payroll purpsoely so that I can speak the truth!!!!
Warning! Don’t get caught-up in the loop and become branfed commodity
for the prison industry! After being branded you become fodder for the
non profit groups. They do profit!!!They profit from your misery,homelessness,joblessness,alcoholism,drug addiction,anxiety and
grief! Get out and stay out of the loop! Your mishaps fatten the pockets
of these schemers! Once you have been ran crazy with all the lime light,
pomp and glitter they are on standby with fifty dollar an hour councilling,
psychiatric and psychological reports to diaqnose the effect of all the
negativity that has entered into your mind!Warning! Wake up!Are become
a pet project.
Come to the round table at 348 east avenue K-8 suite 8 from 1:pm to 6:pm
April 28th on a saturday> Mark your calendar.everyone is welcome! Call
pastor Gerry Mitchel at 661-212-5464 or myself Abdul Majeed Askia at
323-945-9589 emailabdulaskia@yahoo.com…I am a noted writer and national
public speaker. I have lived in palmdale for twentyfour years. I taught
the local prison release program in Lancaster state prison and seven years
at challenger memorial youth facility under united community net work
headed Billy Pricer.
I have split the atom! Warning don’t get caught up in the loop! Its a mad
game,it is a snare, it is horrible and terrible to be branded and treated
like an animal. Come to the round table ! Don’t go for carbon copies,
duplicates, counterfiets and money hungry people who will sale you down
the drain for a few pieces of sliver!!! It is your life,learn to master
yourself,control your emotions and contro your desires,learn to endure
pain and suffering so that you may rise to be the victor in your own life!
Don’t give the money schemers hold and control over your life!
This is a universal message for all people, any where and every where!
This message in non partisan, non denominational reardless of creed
class or color…Abdul Majeed Askia/email:abdulaskia at yahoo.com.
This invitation goes at to protective science institute,all the people
and organizations. peace.
Justice Callout says
Rex ran on creating hatred and fear amongst everyone so we would praise him while he stole and looted Lancaster. Pity the poor followers who praise a false God.
Gladdis says
amen to that
Diana Beard-Williams says
When working closely with Rex on his mayoral campaign, I found him to be an abomination against God’s virtues. Pure and simple, he is evil.
Stinger says
Ace says, “Wasn’t it the Bishop-Mayor Hearns who let crime flourish to a degree that The Rex ran on fighting crime and got everyone that was so upset to meet at the Lancaster Baptist Church to vote Rex in as the guy that would clean up Abilene?”
As usual, ‘the great detective’ didn’t bother to confirm the facts before spouting off with BS. It was under Mayor Hearns (with Bob LaSala as the City Manager) that the LASD finally began to get an increase in deputies sufficient to turn the tide on crime (you know, after Parris’ buddy Gilley REDUCED the LASD ranks up here). This huge increase in deputies was having a positive impact against crime long before Parris held his LBC-sponsored rally and ‘founded’ the nonexistent ‘war on gangs’ group that NEVER OFFICIALLY EXISTED (no papers filed, no IRS records – nothing).
Here you go, Ace. You want a fake nonprofit to go after? How about going after your hero Parris’ fake nonprofit, “AV War on Gangs?”
Ed says
Congratulations to Capt. Denham for being the first law enforcement officer to reach out to the Community. If anyone takes the time to read the experience of the members chosen you will notice that each one has his hand on the pulse of the people. They have the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of the public and convey this to the Captain.