The townhall meeting began with welcoming remarks from the Islamic center’s president, Dr. Aleem Syed, who thanked the sheriff and community for coming together for a much-needed dialogue.
Shakeel Syed, executive director of The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, said the mission of MAHSC was to "eliminate the myth that we are different from the community at large."
Shakeel Syed further stressed the need "to develop a system which can sustain the community and encourage a greater interaction within the community."
Baca, who was keynote speaker, addressed the attendees about progress made by the sheriff’s department in bringing a sense of cultural understanding in the department.
Baca further stressed that it was "wrong to associate crime with religion," and that people committing criminal actions were doing so on their own accord.
"L.A. County is the largest local government in the Unites States," Baca said. "And we must ensure public safety is being addressed properly."
Baca said the multicultural makeup of L.A. County and surrounding counties gives an advantage to everyone in their respective communities to understand one another in order to bridge gaps of understanding.
Audience members had an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the keynote address.
Questioners commended Baca on his service to the community and asked about ways in which community members could become more involved in creating an atmosphere of understanding.
Baca encouraged community members to schedule ride-alongs with officers in their community to help cultivate a concerted effort toward a better mutual understanding of different points of view.
Some inquired about the possible need to develop a cultural training program in which officers could learn the correct protocol when responding to situations such as domestic violence calls within the Muslim community.
Overall sentiments about the townhall meeting were positive, and community members voiced their concerns to see more townhall meetings where elected officials could be exposed to Muslims and their work throughout the community.
At the end of the townhall meeting, Baca was presented with a plaque of appreciation from the community.
