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Coffee, cops and kids: Good mix of Henderson on a Friday morning
By Beth Smith, The Gleaner
Original article HERE
Golden Glaze Bakery on Washington Street was both busy and well protected Friday morning.
The business was the latest location for the Henderson Police Department’s Coffee with a Cop event.
Customers entering the establishment could get free coffee, paid for by HPD, and one-on-one conversation with its officers.
Among those taking advantage of this opportunity were Henderson residents Canaan Burnside, 14, and his brother, Ezra Burnside, 15.
Ezra, who said he hopes one day to become a police detective, said he appreciated the time and attention given to him by HPD’s Major Briscoe Edwards.
The teen told The Gleaner that people shouldn’t think negatively of law enforcement.
“I learned today that just because they are police officers, they are important to society and help shape our society,” he said. “They are one of the primary leaders in our community.”
The young people were brought to Coffee with a Cop by their mother, Natasha Burnside.
“I homeschool them and I thought this would be a good opportunity for them to speak with police officers because we don’t really have a lot of engagement with law enforcement. Also, this would help them take care of an interview assignment they’ve been given through a leadership program they are involved in,” she said.
“I hope today my sons come away with respect for authority,” Burnside said. “I want them to understand that the police are the good guys. I have one who wants to have a career in law enforcement so I hope this is encouraging to him.”
Also participating in Friday’s Coffee with a Cop was Acting Police Chief Jason Hargitt.
Hargitt said the interaction with the community has been very friendly and positive.
“We’ve heard a lot of ‘thank yous’ today from people,” he said. “I had a conversation with a gentleman who said that he appreciated what we do. He told me that he’s lived here his entire life and that he’s never had a problem with law enforcement. He said sometimes people make mistakes and those mistakes need to be addressed, but if you aren’t doing something wrong then you shouldn’t have a problem talking to the police.”
“It all goes back to what we are telling our officers. That they need to get out of their cars and just talk to people and build those relationships,” Hargitt said. “Because if our officers have relationships with people it’s going to be easier for residents to approach law enforcement. We want our officers to just take the time to talk to people. Just to talk, about anything.”
“Let’s face it, generally when people interact with law enforcement it’s because they or someone close to them is having a bad day or a bad moment in the day,” Hargitt said. “But if officers can talk to people when things are going well and they are having a good day, then you can build that relationship.”
To build a better and safer community, he said, everyone needs to get involved.
“Because who knows more about what’s going on in your neighborhood than you do?” he said. “We tell people if you see something, say something.”
“We encourage people when they are out and about and see a police officer who isn’t busy to go up and introduce yourself and get to know them,” Hargitt said. “We encourage our officers to do the same.”
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