DHS community teams up with police to hold public forum
UPDATE: 5:59 p.m.
While Kephyan Sheppard has brought many together as Pastor of the Word of Life Center in Desert Hot Springs, he’s also spent time as Chaplain of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.
“First and foremost is prayer for our officers,” Sheppard said. “I think a lot of people don’t understand how tough it is some days to put on that badge. And then secondly, ride-alongs. Getting to know the officers and show a community presence. And thirdly, community involvement. Thinking of creative ways to get officers and the community at the same place at the same time.”
Now, Sheppard and his wife Tricina will bring both of his congregations together for a community forum at the church, after a deadly summer for officers across the country, with shootings in Dallas, Baton Rouge and San Diego.
“I believe they’re tragedies all around,” Tricina said. “I believe that if we could have better dialogue with the police department, and if we could understand each other, these types of things would not have to occur.”
Which is why the Sheppards and community members said they’ll open up to address concerns and misconceptions, as they work to tear down adversity, and build upon diversity.
“There’s been a lot of shouting, there’s been a lot of yelling, [but] there hasn’t been a lot of dialogue,” Sheppard said. “So, we want to create dialogue to kill any bit of confusion out there.”
The forum is set to be held at the Word of Life Center next Monday, August 1st at 7:30 p.m.
For a link to the event’s Facebook page, click on a link in an earlier version of this article below.
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ORIGINAL STORY: 1:17 p.m.
The Word of Life Center will be partnering with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department on Monday to hold a community forum for the public in the wake of police shootings in Dallas, Baton Rouge and San Diego.
The event is taking place to continue a relationship with the community and police department. Chief Dale Mondary and other officers will be on hand to answer questions from residents at the forum, which is open to the public.
KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer met with Pastor Sheppard at the Word of Life Center on Friday afternoon to learn more about Monday’s upcoming event. Watch the full story on KESQ at 5 p.m. and on CBS Local 2 at 5:30 p.m.
