New Ipswich citizens have “Coffee with a Cop”

By Ashley Saari, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Original article Ma href=”http://www.ledgertranscript.com/New-Ipswich-officers-start-up-Coffee-with-a-Cop-18262293″ target=”_blank”>HERE

“Is that always on?” asks Sadie Stevens of New Ipswich, pointing to the squawking radio affixed to officer David Myer’s belt.

Myer assures her that it is, letting him know not only what’s happening in New Ipswich, but in surrounding towns where he might be called to help.

“I like to be prepared,” he tells her, as he shows her and her two brothers the tools on his belt.

This is the kind of interactions he was hoping for when he first set up the idea of Coffee with a Cop, a program that lets citizens have a coffee courtesy of the officers, and have a chance to interact with them in a casual setting, whether its to bring up a concern or just to have a chat.

“There are a lot of people in town we never interact with at work,” said Myer. “I’ve run into a lot of people that say, ‘I’ve never met you!’ Well, I’ve been here for years.”

“We want to build some relationships,” agreed Sgt. Michael Abel, as the two stood outside the Short Stop, a cafe and coffee shop in the middle of New Ipswich’s downtown on Saturday.

Saturday was the first Coffee with a Cop held in New Ipswich, but Myer said he’d like to do it again. Though he brought the idea to New Ipswich, it’s a model that other departments have used, said Myer, and started in Los Angeles, in order to break down some of the barriers between the public and police officers.

“It just makes police feel more approachable,” he said.

Whether that is answering questions about New Ipswich’s coverage, and the possibility of getting 24-hour coverage, as one resident asked, or allowing kids to see if they can be picked up by the cruiser’s radar by running by fast enough, it’s mainly about making that connection, said Abel.

“Anything that leaves a positive imprint is a good thing,” said Abel.