SAN DIEGO COUNTY DA RECOGNIZES THE PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS’ COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY
February 27, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Doug Elmets
Friday, February 27, 2009 (916) 329-9180
PALA
, CA – San Diego District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis visited the Pala Reservation on February 25, 2009 and presented the Pala Band of Mission Indians with an award for appreciation and leadership in public safety.The Pala Band of Mission Indians was instrumental in preventing the passage of Proposition 5 in the 2008 November general election. Proposition 5 would have shortened prison terms for drug offenders and cost the state billions in new rehabilitation programs for convicts.
“This important and special award recognizes Pala’s commitment and leadership in ensuring our communities are safe,” said San Diego District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis.
“Whether it is a natural disaster, or unforeseen circumstance, safety on the Pala Reservation, and our community is a top priority,” said Pala Tribal Chairman Robert Smith. “Our Tribe was not going to sit back and put our communities in unnecessary risk by allowing Prop 5 to pass. We are all fortunate that voters felt the same.”
The Pala Band of Mission Indians consists of 1,117 members with 650 living on the reservation along the Palomar Mountain range, located along 5,000 square miles of California’s desert and approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego on Interstate 15.
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