Brewing up Conversation and Good Relationships

By Brianna Strunk, WBRE
Original article HERE

Police officers are used to serving their community — but not in the way they did today in the Poconos. Eyewitness News Reporter Brianna Strunk explains.

Sonnie and Charlotte Howey, 5 and 8-year-old sisters walked into the McDonald’s in Stroudsburg for breakfast — but saw badges. At first, they were a little shy.

“I never saw them before at McDonald’s!” said five-year-old Charlotte Howey

The girls quickly warmed up.

“If you didn’t talk to them, it would be hard to see if you needed help.” Explained 8-year-old Sonnie Howey.

This is Stroud Area Regional Police’s first-ever “Coffee with a Cop” event. It’s a way for law enforcement to interact with the public.

Chief Jennifer Lyon of Stroud Area Regional Police told Eyewitness News, “It was funny to see the shock on some of the people’s faces who said my God, is there a robbery going on? Do we have a burglary?”

Before serving his community, Officer Jerome Taylor served customers at McDonald’s. Fifteen years later, he’s putting his old job skills to the test.

“So it was like taking the training wheels off again. It was slow, but once I got into a groove of it, it was just like clockwork!” Officer Taylor noted.

Serving up fast food isn’t the only way this department is getting involved with its community. Stroud Area Regional Police is about to introduce two new k-9 officers, after the department’s last k-9 retired in 2012.

Chief Jennifer Lyon says they’re great assets for building public relations. “We look forward to introducing them to the community and into our department and get them on the streets to get to work!”

Back at McDonald’s — customers are just relieved to see officers at drive-through window — and not at their driver-side door.

The new k-9’s are expected to graduate from training next week.

Stroud Area Regional police hope to organize more “Coffee with a Cop” events