Community outreach event fosters communication between residents, Greeley police

By Tyler Silvy, Greeley Tribune
Original article HERE

When John Salas moved to Greeley from Pueblo two years ago, he realized the cities weren’t quite as similar as various economic and demographic factors might suggest. For Salas, a former Pueblo Chieftain reporter and State Farm agent, Greeley seemed quite a bit more segregated.

It’s one of the reasons Salas reached out to Sgt. Dennis Lobato of the Greeley Police Department’s Neighborhood Action Team. He asked Lobato if Greeley police would be interested in a Coffee with a Cop event. They were.

“It’s a good chance to have face-to-face interaction in a neutral environment,” Lobato said. “And everybody loves coffee.”

A few dozen people stopped by the event, which took place from 9 a.m.-noon at the Starbucks near the Walmart on 10th Street.

There was no shortage of coffee, or cops, for that matter, including Police Chief Jerry Garner, who said the event amounted to community outreach.

“It’s the most important thing we do,” Garner said.

City Councilwoman Sandi Elder also attended, snapping selfies with the chief for Facebook, and had her share of praise for the event, too. Beyond city leaders, though, were families — and kids — who just wanted to thank a cop.

Denise Rudd brought daughters Abby Rudd, 7, Audrey Rudd, 9, and Marilyn Rudd, 11. Abby donned a police officer’s uniform, complete with her own set of small handcuffs. She wants to be a cop some day. Each of the girls, and Denise, sported sticker badges Greeley police gave out at the event. The girls stuck with smoothies rather than coffee.

Becca Ries was one of the officers giving out the stickers, as well as trading cards featuring Greeley officers. Ries has been with the Neighborhood Action Team, which organizes community events, conducts outreach and does special enforcement projects, for a year and a half.

“I love it,” Ries said. “I was a patrol officer for four years. My main goal is to connect with the younger generation.”