Asheville PD holds ‘Coffee With a Cop’ to emphasize department transparency

By Madeleine Hackett, WYFF
Original article HERE

Citizens of Asheville sat beside the men and women in blue Thursday, sharing in coffee and conversation as part of the department’s quarterly “Coffee With a Cop.”
The initiative, which began several years ago, is designed as a way for officers to interact with the community they serve and answer questions of concern and interest.

“Our community engagement is the number one most important thing that we do,” said Tammy Hooper, Asheville’s chief of police. “It’s important to understand our community engagement and ability to talk with people- have conversations about what’s going on. Whether it’s this Hickman incident or just generally what’s going on, crime-wise, in their neighborhoods.”

Hooper is referring to former officer Chris Hickman, accused of beating a black man on Aug. 25 who was allegedly jaywalking at the time.

“The incident with Chris Hickman is not in any way aligned with how we want our officers to act,” Hooper said.

On April 2, video will be released which will show beginning to end of Hickman punching the accused jaywalker in the head while another officer held him down.
A North Carolina law prohibits police departments to release body camera footage on their own.

“It’s kind of like trying to do a job where you want some transparency, but at the same time, the law hinders the ability to do that and so it’s a very difficult line to walk,” said Hooper.