The moderator for the Moreno Valley Town Hall was UC Riverside Professor Carolyn Murray. The panelists included: Moreno Valley Chief of Police Joel Ontiveros, Chief Deputy Sheriff Patty Knudson, Bishop Lacy Sykes, Bettye Turner of the Bureau of Federal Prisons, Maribel Mattox representing Moreno Valley Unified School District, and Moreno Valley resident Basil Kimbrew.

On Monday, several hundred Moreno Valley concerned citizens, city leaders, and clergy, braved the sudden rain downpour to attend a town hall meeting on community and police relations organized by the Riverside NAACP and hosted by Cross Word Christian Church.

The moderator for the Moreno Valley Town Hall was UC Riverside Professor Carolyn Murray. The panelists included: Moreno Valley Chief of Police Joel Ontiveros, Chief Deputy Sheriff Patty Knudson, Bishop Lacy Sykes, Bettye Turner of the Bureau of Federal Prisons, Maribel Mattox representing Moreno Valley Unified School District, and Moreno Valley resident Basil Kimbrew.
The moderator for the Moreno Valley Town Hall was UC Riverside Professor Carolyn Murray. The panelists included: Moreno Valley Chief of Police Joel Ontiveros, Chief Deputy Sheriff Patty Knudson, Bishop Lacy Sykes, Bettye Turner of the Bureau of Federal Prisons, Maribel Mattox representing Moreno Valley Unified School District, and Moreno Valley resident Basil Kimbrew.
According to Moreno Valley School Board member and town hall facilitator Dr. Denise Fleming, the meeting was requested by Moreno Valley Police Department Chief Joel Ontiveros, who wanted to open a dialogue with the surrounding community in the wake of the Raymond Johnson incident.

Johnson was taken into custody two weeks ago during an incident in a Moreno Valley Burger King parking lot and shortly after died in police custody. The arrest was videotaped by a witness and seemed to show the use of excessive force by police officers.

Hundreds of residents attended Monday’s Town Hall meeting held at Cross Word Christian Church.
Hundreds of residents attended Monday’s Town Hall meeting held at Cross Word Christian Church.
Last week, Johnson’s widow Lawanda announced through her attorney that she would be filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the agency that contracts to provide Moreno Valley’s police services.

“You have the ability to communicate with the chief of police 24 hours a day,” Chief Ontiveros said of his availability and commitment to complete access. “Twenty-four of my 26 years with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been right here in Moreno Valley. It’s my home.”

His goal, along with that of the leadership of the department is to “bridge the gap” and build trust between law enforcement and the community at large.

The spirit of the meeting was one of cooperation and communication. “We need to come together as a people,” said Bishop Lacy Sykes, founder and senior pastor of Cross Word Christian Church. It’s not about Black or Brown, we all must join together he told the diverse audience.

“When I make a call for help,” Dr. Fleming commented, “I believe I deserve that my law enforcement officials protect, serve, and have integrity. We all deserve that.” She called the agency honorable and believes that it’s imperative that the lines of communication remain open.

Over 100 questions were written on note cards by the audience awaiting the six-person panel’s response, but most were not answered due to time constraints.

However the looming question of why Mr. Johnson was treated in such an inhumane and violent manner was asked but not answered.

“I’m unable to comment any further, but once the investigation has progressed we will be able to present more information,” Chief Deputy Sheriff Patty Knudson said.

Riverside NAACP President Woodie Rucker Hughes concluded, “there is a disconnect in what we saw and what happened. And we will need some answers soon.”