SIMI VALLEY : Citizens Named to Gang Task Force

The Simi Valley City Council on Monday appointed a former gang member, an LAPD narcotics officer, a PTA member and an interpreter for the deaf to work on the city’s revived Gang Task Force.

City officials had waded through a pool of 46 applicants to choose the citizen members for the task force of law enforcement officials, community leaders and social workers.

The council voted 5 to 0 to approve:

* David Alo, a maker of patio covers who says he committed crimes and served time as a member of a Long Beach gang before he moved to Simi Valley and went straight.

* John James FitzSimons, a Los Angeles police narcotics officer who combats L.A. street gangs.

* Sharon L. Lambertson, a secretary-bookkeeper for her own painting company who serves as the safety chairwoman of the Simi Valley PTA Council.

* Barbara M. Zaslow, a quality-assurance manager for a Chatsworth company and interpreter for the deaf.

Initially, there were only three seats open to the public but council members Paul Miller and Barbara Williamson asked for a fourth slot because of the high quality of candidates.

“I’m amazed you got it down to four, because it was a terrific group of people, all with tremendous interest in their community,” said Mayor Greg Stratton.

He told the appointees: “Thank you for volunteering, and we’re going to keep you busy for a while.”

Other task force members confirmed by council vote Monday night were Simi Valley Police Chief Randy Adams, Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Ron Janes, Deputy Chief Probation Officer Cal Remington, and Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Brooks.

The council also selected James Meredith, chairman of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District; Simi Valley Boys & Girls Club President Linda White, the Rev. Todd Whetsel, Chamber of Commerce member Jacqueline Richardson, Simi Valley Youth Council member Brian Rudiger and Debbie Sandland.