Police Department

SPD launches Coffee with a Cop program

A community engagement intitiative

Sgt. Lydia Taylor, 509.481.8656

Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 1 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department is launching a new monthly community engagement program, Coffee with a Cop. The Coffee with a Cop program is nationally recognized, has been implemented in hundreds of other U.S. cities, and provides a unique opportunity for community members to talk with officers and Spokane Police leadership regarding questions and concerns in an informal setting.

The first Coffee with a Cop event will be held at The Reboot Bar, 501 S Thor on Tuesday, January 21st, 2014 at 9 a.m.

All community members are invited to attend this event.

Coffee with a Cop is an event where police and community members come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee. It is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and has been implemented in over 175 cities and towns in 36 states across the country.

The goal of the program is to increase community trust, police legitimacy and partnership building. Coffee with a Cop removes the physical barriers and crisis situations that routinely define interactions between law enforcement officials and community members. Instead it allows for relaxed, informal one-on-one interactions in a friendly atmosphere. This informal contact increases trust in police officers as individuals which is foundation to building partnerships and engaging in community problem solving. The program aims to advance the practice of Community Policing through improving relationships between police officers and the community, one cup at a time.

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