Police, Clergy to Share Views on Council

In an effort to reach out to different segments of the area, the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division has established a Clergy/Police Council to gain the perspective of the religious community on crime.

The council, launched in June by division commander Capt. Val Paniccia, will meet regularly with officers to talk about the needs of the people in the West Valley. By collecting input from priests, pastors and rabbis, police officials hope to gain insight they would not be able to get themselves.

“These clergy can be key representatives of the community,” said Patrol Commanding Officer George Ibarra. “They have the opportunity to speak to people, and the people in their church have respect for them. They have a unique perspective of what the needs are.”

The Rev. Synde Manion of St. Luke Lutheran Church said the council would be a good way to get the message to law enforcement about concerns she has heard from the mostly commercial neighbors of the Woodland Hills church.

“My experience with police is that they are so inundated with dealing with violent crime and trying to protect people, it prohibits them from providing the amount of care for people that they might want to,” Manion said. “So, it’s up to us to volunteer our services to help lighten their burden.”

In addition to the council meetings, the participating clergy will interact with the officers by viewing roll call procedures and observing during ride-alongs in patrol cars.

Manion and Ibarra agree that the clergy’s presence on patrol could be a calming influence during stressful situations.

“Sometimes officers are only able to get the facts,” said Manion, who plans to join the council this week. “It’s important for victims to know there is a person there who will just listen.”

Clergy from Canoga Park, Encino, Reseda, Tarzana, West Hills and Woodland Hills are invited to the council’s second meeting, which will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the station’s roll call room, 19020 Vanowen St.

For more information on the Clergy/Police Council, call (818) 756-8406.