For more information on the “Coffe with a Cop” movement, go to www.coffeewithacop.org.
Most people interact with a police officer during a wreck, burglary or other time of crisis. In Brookhaven, the community and the police are getting to know each other over a cup of coffee. Coffee With a Cop is a national movement started in California that has been gaining traction in cities and towns in the metro Atlanta area. In March, the Brookhaven Police Department became the latest to invite the residents it serves for coffee at Flying Biscuit Cafe, which hosted the event and picked up the tab.
“I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from residents and the only question everyone has is, ‘When is the next one?’” said Officer Howard Miller, who does community outreach for the Brookhaven police. The department is planning to hold these coffee breaks monthly.
Q: Why did you decide to try Coffee With a Cop?
A: After learning about the success it has had elsewhere, I brought it to the attention of the chain of command. Our chief of police is very supportive of us getting involved and partnering with the community.
Q: How was turn out?
A: We had between 20 and 30 people from the community show up. Our chief and several of the command staff attended. Several police officers who patrol the area had a chance to stop in for a few minutes and have a cup of coffee and talk with residents.
Q: What were some of the issues discussed?
A: The issues mostly revolved around traffic. A lot of the discussion also focused around the programs we have, such as our Smart911, which allows residents to create their profile in case there is an emergency, and the residential security checks that we do for residents while they are out of town. A lot of people were unaware of these.
Q: Were you nervous people wouldn’t come?
A: I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but it was a little like "If you build it, they will come." Our first event was at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday so there were a lot of people unable to attend because of work and children obligations. Moving forward, we are planning on having the event at different times and on different days to accommodate as many people as we can. We are even talking about doing one at police headquarters on a weekend.
Q: How else are you getting involved in the community?
A: One of the things we have started doing is going to elementary schools and reading to students. One of the issues that we combat is parents telling their kids, "Hey, if you don't behave, we're going to have the police take you away." We really wish that adults wouldn't say that because we don't want the children to be afraid to approach a police officer if they are in trouble.
Q: Why do you think Coffee With a Cop has caught on?
A: It is truly an event that doesn't have an agenda. It is an informal way for the community and the police department to get together. It is a chance for us to build partnership and trust. We get to know the residents in the community and they get to know the police officers patrolling their neighborhoods.
Q: Why is that important?
A: We can't do this job by ourselves. We need members of the community to partner with us and participate with us and discuss their problems with us so we can find solutions together. A lot of people in the community have some fantastic ideas.
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