Dunwoody public safety officials hope that a cup of joe and a relaxed chat will improve relations between police and the community.
Toward that goal, the city is sponsoring “Coffee with a Cop” Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 4-7 p.m. A statement from the Dunwoody Police Department said the conversation will provide “a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Dunwoody’s neighborhoods.”
But it’s not just a question-and-answer interaction. Police officials hope that the one-on-one contact in an informal setting will help form the kind of good faith bond that has become a critical resource.
The get-together is part of a national program intended to improve communication in a time of police-involved shootings, when relations between police officers and communities have become tense.
Mary Brandenburg, spokeswoman for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the U.S. Department of Justice, said “Coffee with a Cop” began in Hawthorne, California, in 2011. With a federal grant and the assistance of Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois, the originators created a training program to help other police forces participate.
She said the coffee klatches have now taken place in 567 jurisdictions, putting close to 4,500 police officers together with 26,000 community members. Brookhaven police conducted a coffee gathering in March, attracting between 20 and 30 citizens.
“We hope that community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring concerns, or simply get to know our officers,” said Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”
Coffee with a Cop will take place Tuesday, Dec. 1, 4-7 p.m., at Créme Cafe, 2458 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, Ga. Information: 678-382-6900, www.dunwoodyga.gov
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