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| Pilot Program to Address Community/Police Relations, One of First in the Region |
PASADENA, CA. - The Western Justice Center Foundation, (WJCF) the regional non
profit leader in conflict resolution systems design, in partnership with the
Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Bar, Dispute Resolution
Services (DRS) is pleased to announce the initiation of the Community/Police Mediation
and Dialogue Program. "The unique aspect of this timely program is the combination of
dialogue and mediation which will address the spectrum of concerns that emerge
between police and communities," said Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Executive Director of
the WJCF. The WCJF and its partners will host a press conference at 9 a.m. on August 4,
2005 (Thursday) to discuss the establishment of this program and specific strategies
that have been developed to address community/police relations.
WHERE: Western Justice
Center Foundation , 55 S. Grand Avenue, Pasadena
WHEN: 9 A.M., August 4, 2005
SPEAKERS: Hon. Dorothy W. Nelson, WJCF Board Chair Najeeba Syeed-Miller, WJCF
Executive Director Tobi Inlender , DRS Executive Director Deborah Thomas, DRS Associate
Executive Director Chief of Police Bernard K. Melekian , Pasadena Police Department
Merrick Bobb , Founder and President, Police Assessment Resource Center The goals
of this program are to provide the community and Police Department with: · An effective
method of resolving situations that emerge between individual police officers and
community members through the neutral third party intervention of mediation. ·
Facilitated interactions to engage with one another on community-wide issues through
a dialogue process that is both responsive to particular situations and also available
as an ongoing tool for discussing issues. This program is the only comprehensive conflict
resolution and systematic dialogue program that exists in Southern California to address community/police relations. Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian said, "This program is
a win/win for the community and the officers who serve them. Eighty percent of the
complaints are often about perceived attitudes and misunderstandings about police
practices." The mediation and dialogue project will be monitored by the Police Assessment
Resource Center, a nationally recognized police oversight agency. "The WJCF is pleased
to be a partner in this groundbreaking endeavor that will address community and police
relations," said Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, WJCF Board Chair. It will serve as a model
program for the nation. The program partners will host a national conference on
community/police relations at the end of the first year of this program. Dispute Resolution
Services Executive Director, Tobi Inlender said, "DRS is excited to be a part of this very
significant initiative on behalf of the Pasadena community and to be working the WJCF
and Pasadena Police Department." Please join us for this upcoming press conference
to learn more about this important program.
Western Justice Center Foundation Working with children, schools, communities,
courts and governments to assure
peaceful conflict resolution and improve access to
justice. www.westernjustice.org 55 S. Grand Avenue Pasadena ,
CA 91105 626 594 7494
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