Panelists with diverse backgrounds, public discuss police-community relations at symposium in Antioch, Saturday night

Tamisha Walker, a re-entry professional and former convict, (center) speaks during the symposium, as the other panelists (from left to right), Mary Kelly Persyn, founder and principal of Persyn Law & Policy, Sgt. Joe Johnson of the California Highway Patrol, Retired Oakley Police Officer Mark Hicks, who has a background in stolen car defense training, nurse Shonta Archie, and mental health professional and clinical therapist Dr. Richard Hanzy, look on. photo by Allen Payton

Tamisha Walker, a re-entry professional and former convict, (center) speaks during the symposium, as fellow panelists (from left to right), Mary Kelly Persyn, founder and principal of Persyn Law & Policy, Sgt. Joe Johnson of the California Highway Patrol, Retired Oakley Police Officer Mark Hicks, who has a background in stolen car defense training, nurse Shonta Archie, and mental health professional and clinical therapist Dr. Richard Hanzy, look on and the audience listens. photo by Allen Payton

By Debbie Hicks

Antioch and East County residents had the opportunity to discuss and hear from a variety of panelists about President Obama’s report on 21st Century Policing during a symposium held in Antioch, Saturday night.  Organized by the recently formed Antioch Community Team (ACT), made up of local residents and parents, the symposium addressed the first pillar of the report, Trust and Legitimacy.

Organizers originally planned to focus the symposium on Antioch and had begin promoting it as such. But, once it was learned that neither Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando nor Captain Tammany Brooks, who learned about 21st Century Policing while at the FBI in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, could attend that evening, the focus was changed to a general discussion on issues affecting our nation. The group then published a new flyer reflecting that change.

The theme of the event was, ‘Building Bridges and Tearing Down Barriers’.  Current police-related deaths of African Americans across the country, have brought attention to the mistrust and damaged relationship between communities and law enforcement.  ACT assembled a panel of six professionals from Antioch and the Bay Area to have a proactive, meaningful discussion on how and why fear plays a role in affecting Trust and Legitimacy between law enforcement and communities-at-large.

Panelists included attorney Mary Kelly Persyn, founder and principal of Persyn Law & Policy, Sgt. Joe Johnson of the California Highway Patrol, Tamisha Walker, a re-entry professional and former convict, Retired Oakley Police Officer Mark Hicks, who has a background in stolen car defense training, Shonta Archie, a nurse and mental health professional and clinical therapist Dr. Richard Hanzy.

Held at the Delta Bay Church of Christ, the approximately 70 residents who attended, including some local officials, had the change to participate in the discussion. During public speaking and testimony, a diverse group of people described why trust was difficult to come by.  In order for us to build upon trust, all attendees concluded, we must continue to partner with each other, be respectful of one another, and continue to hold events which bring together communities and law enforcement to address current topics.  The importance of educating our community on difficult challenges officers experience every day, law enforcement having a better understanding of the community they serve and bringing young people into this discussion was also emphasized.

For information on future symposiums, email Con Johnson @conjohnson1@gmail. To learn more about 21st Century Policing, please see the original article about the symposium, here and click on the links at the bottom.

Hicks is one of the founders of ACT. Allen Payton contributed to this report.


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2 Comments to “Panelists with diverse backgrounds, public discuss police-community relations at symposium in Antioch, Saturday night”

  1. Rjb says:

    Having such a meeting communicates nuances that Antioch PD is behaving like Ferguson PD, does it not? What is the underlying agenda here?

  2. Julio says:

    We have had this type of situation before too. I am sure Chief Cantando will do the right thing.

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