YPD, YCSO host Coffee with a Cop events
Area residents will have another opportunity to come out and get to know the men and women who have sworn an oath to serve and protect them during two separate upcoming Coffee with a Cop events.
Yuma Police Department is holding the event Wednesday, from 6 to 10 a.m., at the Dunkin Donuts located at 1651 S. 4th Ave.
The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office is also holding the event Wednesday from 6 to 9 a.m. at the Dunkin Donuts in the Foothills, located at 11181 E. South Frontage Road.
According to the agencies, the events are part of an outreach effort that provides opportunities for community members to informally meet officers and deputies and discuss community issues.
A majority of the contact police officers have with the public occurs during emergencies or emotional situations.
Those situations are not always the best times to try and build a relationship with the community, which can sometimes lead people to believe that officers are unapproachable on the street.
As such, the Coffee with a Cop events are intended to break down barriers and allow for a relaxed, comfortable environment allowing for one-on-one interaction to build relationships and drink coffee.
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the country, 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.