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‘Coffee with a Cop’ visits Clinton
By Thomas Baker, Rome Sentinel
Original article HERE
There’s never a cop around when you need one, except if you live in Oneida County, that is.
Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol, and his band of brother deputies and officers, have been meeting with the community going on 2 1/2 years.
On Friday, Feb. 15, they were eyes and ears open to the patrons of Charlie’s Place Diner on Seneca Turnpike.
The event is based on the national “Coffee with a Cop Day” which originated in 2011 by the Hawthorne Police Department in California. Established in the hopes of “interacting with the citizens they served each day” it caught on around the country. The functions are now held in all 50 states and is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs in the country, according to www.coffeewithacop.com.
The website explains the idea is for law enforcement to engage with the community outside of the crisis situations that typically bring the public and police together, and discuss general ways to work together for the betterment of the community. The program has grown in the past eight years to include participation outside the U.S such places as Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and Latin America.
Maciol said since participating in the program, the response has been overwhelming. A great number of people have wanted to talk to them — no agenda, just things that were of concern, things they might like to report, or just have an open dialogue about.
“Originally we were going to do it only once a year,” Maciol said. “After we saw the success we were having, we started doing it once-a-month. So one Friday a month now, we go somewhere different than the month before.”
Along with the sheriff, eight representatives of the OCSO came out, including Chief Deputies Jon Owens and Greg Pflieger, Undersheriff Joe Lisi, Sgt. Terry Gilbert, Deputy Dominic Belmonte and Correction Officers Richard Sturgeon and John Curley.
Clinton residents Tjaart and Audrey Kruger spoke to Maciol during the event and said they were excited to see the sheriff’s office taking the time to speak with the public so informally.
“What a wonderful opportunity, I think it’s awesome they come out like this,” Audrey Kruger said. “I had no idea that for a few exceptions, they cover all the schools in the area.”
Maciol told people he’s glad they like the event, and thought of it as a worthwhile experience. Maciol has been on the job in Oneida County for 30 years, having been hired out of New York Mills when he was just 20-years-old.
Today as a seasoned law enforcement officer, Maciol told people Friday morning he loved his job and serving the people.
“It’s such a positive experience helping people every day,” the sheriff said. “I’ve been around for a while, true, but I have a lot of energy left.”
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