The Fight Against Crime: Notes From The Front : Clergy, Police Form a Higher Sense of Order

They gather together, once a month, every month. Some wear the cloth and others carry the badge.

They are a motley crew that includes a pastor from Pacoima, a chaplain from Holy Cross Medical Center, a priest from San Fernando, and more than 20 other neighborhood church leaders who together form the LAPD Foothill Division’s Clergy Police Council. Police Capt. Ron Bergmann saw a similar group open new avenues of communication to the community when he was an officer assigned to the 77th Division and thought Foothill could benefit from something similar.

Both sides learn from the other. Clergy members learn about police procedures and Foothill officers learn what residents need. The Rev. Bob Batson of Foothill Baptist Church in Sylmar said the purpose of the council is to unite the groups as a single front against crime.

“We are Baptist, Lutheran and Methodist and they are police,” he said. “Now, instead of fighting among ourselves, we are all unified in one purpose: helping the community.”

And when homicide or rape is the crime, the council is on the case. The clergy developed a crisis response team for crime victims and family members.

When the need arises, Foothill’s officers page the crisis response director, the Rev. Andrew Wright, pastor of Pacoima’s Calvary Baptist Church. Wright decides which clergy member is appropriate for the call and sends that person directly to the crime scene to provide counseling.

But because Foothill has had only three homicides this year, the team has been unable to perfect the process. The first death was a murder-suicide.

And by the time the other two incidents were brought to Wright’s attention, it was too late for counseling. Officer Michael Windsor said although the response team has not been tested, considerable enthusiasm remains.

“Let’s get this in perspective. This is a good thing that there have been so few homicides,” said Windsor. “We don’t want the crisis response team to be busy.”

Sister Colleen Settles, a chaplain at Holy Cross Medical Center, understands more than most the need for such a team. Settles considers violence one of the Valley’s leading health care issues. More often than not, she said, victims don’t make it as far as the hospital.

“Police are aware they are not trained to handle spiritual and emotional issues,” said Settles. “So, they are reaching out to the experts and asking for help.”

Bergmann said he also wants to hear complaints about police that come up behind church doors. “What do they expect from us? I want to hear if someone is mad about the fact that we did this or that,” he said. “Everything helps us, good and bad.”

The council was formed at the urging of Windsor and Sgt. Ken Roth. At meetings, the council discusses the range of problems plaguing the community such as the proliferation of guns, drug abuse and gang violence. But all have individual interests.

Father Ernesto Sanchez of Santa Rosa Catholic Church in San Fernando joined to learn more about preventing domestic violence. Pastor John Lett of St. John’s Baptist Church is looking for new ways to keep their young people off the streets.

Clergy members also hope to shove off the black cloud that hangs over the LAPD. Settles considers one of the council’s goals is to help restore police credibility in the neighborhood.

“Ever since Rodney King, police have been struggling with an image problem,” she said. “They want people to know the good they are doing and maybe we can help.”