Lyle Martin

Chief of Police, Bakersfield Police Department

Lyle Martin attended local schools in Bakersfield, CA. Lyle possesses a Master’s degree of Business Administration and has completed his course work toward his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. December of 2016, Lyle Martin was selected as the 20th Chief of Police for the Bakersfield Police Department. Chief Martin worked for the Bakersfield Police Department for 32 years. His experience includes serving as a street level narcotics officer, motorcycle officer, homicide detective, Special Enforcement Unit Sergeant and Lieutenant, SWAT operator and SWAT team leader. After retiring from the Bakersfield Police Department (2019) Chief Martin was selected as the Chief Investigator for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.

Chief Martin is a recognized Subject Matter Expert in Law Enforcement Executive Management Development by California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). Chief Martin was a planning committee member and is a graduate of the first cohort of the California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker. He was appointed by the Board of State and Community Corrections to the JAG Grant Executive Steering Committee as a Subject Matter Expert for the 2018 funding cycle representing California municipal police departments. Chief Martin is dedicated to public safety and quality of life issues in our community.

Chief Martin is Adjunct Faculty for California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield College, and was the Lead Faculty Area Chair for the University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus for over 10 years.

Chief Martin is a member of Bakersfield Downtown Rotary, International Association of Chiefs of Police, California Police Chiefs’ Association, California Police Officers Association, Board Member for Mendiburu Magic Foundation, and Kegley Institute of Ethics Community Associate (California State University Bakersfield), California State University Bakersfield Center for Social Justice founding board member, Adventist Health Governing Board member, and President of the Bakersfield Police Activities League (BPAL). Chief Martin also enjoys reading and working out.

Javon Dangerfield

Community consultant, entertainer and more!

Jovon Dangerfield wears more than a few hats. Community consultants, servants, administrators, and organizers are just a few. Working locally and nationally for eight years, Jovon has entered High Schools, Colleges, Churches, and Community Events. He has traveled the U.S. as an entertainer and public speaker, sharing his message with at-risk youth and incarcerated individuals. Having served on the front lines of the Opiate Epidemic as an addiction specialist, Jovon understands the issues and barriers facing his community and is a voice for resourcing the community along with championing solutions for homelessness. Jovon has led initiatives such as the Baker Street initiative, serving a food insecure population, and Kams Kloset, providing free clothes to teens in need for school.

His musical experience started working as a professional pianist, including producing music and performing locally and throughout the country as a Kingdom Activist. Jovon works with the Bakersfield Music Awards as a top-level organizer and board member, along with partnering with the local Guitar Center to provide piano lessons to youth interested in music.

Jovon frequents local news networks, participating in anti-racism campaigns and humanitarian effort projects and using music, his voice, and his platform to decry gang violence while looking for plausible solutions and alternatives.

Jovon hopes to use humor, consciousness, and clarity to continue the narrative of hope, inspiration, and self-reflection while hosting “The Danger Zone.”

Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains

Assembly Member

Assembly member Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2022 to represent the 35th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Bakersfield, Delano, Arvin, McFarland, Lamont, and Shafter. She is the first Sikh American elected to California State office and the first South Asian woman elected to the California legislature. The daughter of immigrant parents from India, she grew up in Kern County and worked in her family’s business before becoming a physician specializing in family medicine and addiction care. Dr. Bains also serves as the Chief Medical Officer for the Central Valley with the California Medical Assistance Team (CAL-MAT) to help respond to disasters throughout the state.