Police gather with local Muslims

By Philip Sayblack, Rocky Mountain Telegram
Original article HERE

A longtime partnership between the Rocky Mount Police Department and the local Muslim community led to a first-time event for both groups on Thursday.

The Rocky Mount Police Department hosted its monthly Coffee With A Cop program at the Masjid Al-Huda Mosque at 1513 Memory Lane.

Lt. Henry King said it marked the first time the police department has held the event at a Muslim religious institution, adding it also marked the first time that any law enforcement agency in North Carolina has hosted such an event at a mosque. It also marks the 13th different religious institution at which the police department has hosted its community program. Cpl. Brad Summerlin added the planning for the event started more than a year ago.

King said working with the members of the mosque is important because the agency wants to connect with every member of the Rocky Mount community.

“We have a great partnership with everyone here,” King said. “We just want to make sure we serve everyone in the community.”

Summerlin agreed.

“It makes us feel good to partner with everyone here,” Summerlin said. “With everything going on in the country right now, it is important for the police department to reach out to everyone. It is a great event, and this is just the start of our partnership with everyone here and everyone in Rocky Mount’s Muslim community.”

Thursday afternoon’s setting was an ideal situation for the groups to come together. The late afternoon sun shined down on the mosque while a warm breeze glided through the air, spreading enticing aromas of grilled chicken and lamb. The smell of well-cooked vegetable dishes filled the air, too, as officers and members of the mosque communed under a tent and enjoyed the good food and good company.

Elder Khaled Hasan stressed, as everyone dined, that the mosque’s members fully welcomed the partnership with the police department. He added he wants everyone to know Muslims in general should not be feared.

“We are American citizens,” Hasan said. “We’re just like everybody else. We are modern Muslims. That means when you follow Islamic law, you care for others. You are your brother’s keeper.”

He added everyone at the mosque was very excited to have the police department reach out and make the connection with them.

“Our goal is to have open lines of communication with local law enforcement,” Hasan said. “The police department is welcome here anytime.”

Hasan added he and the members of the mosque want to hold the event with the police department every year.