Officers meet with public for “Coffee With a Cop”

By Jason Burger, KJCT
Original article HERE

You usually don’t talk to police officers unless you have to, but officers in the Grand Junction Police Department reached out to the public in an effort to change that.

As part of Police Week, officers met with Grand Valley residents for a cup of coffee on Thursday to get to know each other a little better.

Members of the public were able to ask the officers questions about their line of work, and better understand why the police department works the way it does.

At the coffee shop, both the cops and the residents that showed up were grateful for the company.

“Our whole purpose is to have those relationships and to work with the community to make it a better place to live, and to make it safer,” said GJPD Interim Chief Mike Nordine.

“Unfortunately there’s too much news out there about when people are not supporting them. And I think it’s important that they know they are appreciated for what they do,” said Grand Junction Resident, Deb Watters.

The next Police Week event will be the Public Safety Touch-a-Truck, and that will be at Long Family Memorial Park at 5:30 p.m. on May 18.