On Wednesday, February 10th, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., police officers from the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) District Police Department and the Petaluma Police Department (PPD) would like to buy you a cup of coffee.
The District Police will co-host a “Coffee with a Cop” event at the Santa Rosa Junior College, Petaluma Campus, in the student café (680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma). Community members and students are encouraged and welcome to come together in an informal, safe environment to discuss community issues, build relationships, and get to know each other over a cup of coffee. The event will focus on conversations with SRJC students and residents in the surrounding Petaluma Community.
The Coffee with a Cop program provides a unique opportunity for our community to ask questions and learn more about police work in our schools and neighborhoods. Unfortunately, police officers often interact with people during emergencies and highly emotional situations. These are not always the most effective times to build relationships. Additionally, some people are wary to approach a police officer when they are out on the street.
The goal of Coffee with a Cop is to break down these barriers and allow for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction with our community. Our hope is when these events take place, community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring concerns, or simply get to know our police officers and staff members. The SRJC District Police and Petaluma Police Departments believe these interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are held across the county, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve. The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.
Please contact Sergeant Steven Potter with the SRJC District Police at [email protected], with any questions regarding the event. All community members are always invited to attend. There will be more Coffee with a Cop events coming to a neighborhood near you! We hope to see you at the next one if you were not able to make this event.
