First Coffee with a Cop called a success

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Residents talk informally with officers

The Starbucks at 1425 W. Granada Blvd. was swarming with police the morning of Sept. 16. Well, they weren’t swarming, but rather sipping coffee and chatting with residents at the first Coffee with a Cop event. Several police officers talked to a steady stream of residents throughout the morning.

Coffee with a Cop is a new program that offers an opportunity for the public to meet with officers in an informal situation, ask questions and learn more about the department’s work.

The get-togethers will continue weekly for a while, according to Crime Prevention Officer Jay Brennan, who started the initiative. He said he’s been contacted by a lot of restaurants that want to take part, and the first event was a success.

It may become monthly eventually, but as long as there is interest, Brennan said he’ll make it happen.

“It was really good,” he said about Tuesday’s gathering. He said the officers were kept busy talking about issues from traffic to gun laws and crime prevention.

“We want to bridge the gap between the community and police,” he said.

The idea came to Brennan when he and partner Officer Greg Stokes were in a restaurant and people started asking questions about police work. He said he believed there should be a way to make police more accessible to people.

In searching through the Internet, he found the Coffee with a Cop program, which is conducted by police in several cities. He believes it will be very beneficial.

“We want people to realize we’re there to help,” Brennan said. “We want the community to trust us and come to us with any problem.”

Also, he said he wants people to realize that everything police do is dictated by policy and procedures.

“There are certain steps we have to do,” he said. “Some people think we play it by ear.”

Future events will be 8:30-10 a.m. on Sept. 23, at Starbucks, 247 E. Granada Blvd.; Sept. 30, Panera Bread, 250 N. Nova Road; Oct. 7, Chick-Fil-A, 1464 W. Granada Blvd.; and Oct. 14, Einstein Bros. Bagels, 110 S. Nova Road.

Email: [email protected].