17th Annual Cops and Clergy Faith and Justice Summit to be Held

REDLANDS>> With a theme of "Community and Police Relations," the 17th annual Faith and Justice Summit, hosted by the Cops and Clergy Network Inc. Redlands and Yucaipa chapters, is scheduled Thursday, March 16, at Yucaipa First Assembly Church, 12226 Second St., Yucaipa. The event will have a focus on “Mental Health First Aid” and will include workshops such as Pipeline School to Prison; Social Justice and Mental Health; Police Department Outreach Programs; and the District Attorney’s Outreach and Victim Assistance Programs. Scheduled speakers include Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shelley Kennedy-Smith; San Bernardino County Supervising Deputy District Attorney William Lee; Deryl Lackey, Director of Missions for the Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association; and Craig Turley, CEO of the Blessing Center. The Cops and Clergy Network’s vision is to save lives by offering training opportunities to police and the community to learn from each other, share and develop relationships. The International Association of Police Chiefs has proposed that all police officers be trained in Mental Health First Aid. The Cops and Clergy Network plans to provide Mental Health First Aid training to police agencies, churches, non-profits and individuals beginning summer 2017. The Cops and Clergy Network was formed out of an informal coalition which began meeting in the fall of 1998. The Inland Empire Cops and Clergy Network was co-founded by then-Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann and Dr. Felix Roger Jones III, Pastor of All People Unity Baptist Church. The Cops and Clergy Network was formally incorporated under the leadership of President and CEO, Dr. Jones in 2003 to further promote community involvement in police and civic matters. “I knew if we could just come together as human beings, rather than disparate community groups, something good would happen,” Jones said. The annual Faith and Justice Summit has addressed issues such as preventing and responding to domestic violence; mobilizing the church, city and community in the event of disaster; and igniting faith-based partnerships, among other topics. Registration is $25 per person or $125 for a table of six before Wednesday, March 1. After that date, registration is $35 per person or $150 for a table of six. For additional information and registration go to web site www.CopsClergyNetwork.org or call (909) 792-8300.