5 Facts About Coffee With a Cop

The stereotype may be true: cops love coffee. But, fortunately, so do the communities they strive to protect.

Coffee with a Cop events are hosted at local cafes and fast food restaurants, where police and citizens can talk in a casual setting about community issues and solutions. The program started when Hawthorne Police Chief Robert Fager wanted to improve his California department’s relations with the community in 2011, according to the Coffee with a Cop website.

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Here are five facts about Coffee with a Cop.

1. Part of a Larger Policing Strategy
Coffee with a Cop is a part of community-oriented policing strategies. Community-oriented policing strategies encourage police forces to forge partnerships with their surrounding communities to more effectively identify and solve problems. The U.S. Department of Justice implemented Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to assist in expanding such policies.

2. Widespread
Although Coffee With a Cop began in a single California community, the event has spread to more than 175 communities throughout 36 states. In May 2014, Coffee With a Cop broke national borders and was held in Montreal, Canada.

3. There Are No Distractions or Barriers
During Coffee with a Cop events, officers turn off their radios and cell phones so that civilians can communicate in a stress-free, casual environment. Community members are encouraged to talk one-on-one with officers, without barriers.

4. Easy for Community Members to Get Involved
In addition to the Coffee with a Cop website, where community members can find the closest event near them, Coffee with a Cop has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. If there is no Coffee With a Cop program in an area that expresses interest, a community member need only reach out to their local police department or through the Coffee with a Cop site.

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5. Easy for Police Officers to Get Involved
Coffee with a Cop is a cheap and effective way for police departments to build better relations with their surrounding communities. The Coffee with a Cop site offers training, materials and other resources that officers and departments can use to host Coffee with a Cop events in their area.

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