July 5, 2019

EPD hosts Coffee with a Cop at Talbot County Free Library

By Christina Acosta, The Star Democrat
Original article HERE

The Easton Police Department (EPD) hosted Coffee with a Cop at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton on Tuesday, June 18.

The purpose of the event was to provide residents with the opportunity to meet their local law enforcement officers, ask questions, voice concerns and learn more about the EPD. The community outreach initiative is informal so that citizens are comfortable discussing issues such as criminal activity, crime prevention and relationships with local police personnel.

Easton Police Department Patrol Officer Kyle Willey said that during the event, there was a lot of local residents expressing concern over the recent YMCA incident. On the morning of Thursday, June 6, John Cassidy was fatally stabbed in the men’s locker room at the Easton Family YMCA. A 31-year-old Easton man has been charged with Cassidy’s murder.

“We are a little more on edge than usual and we did our best to explain the situation as best as we could to them,” said Willey. “We are waiting for the investigation and trial to be complete, but we gave out safety precaution and tips, and explain the situation as best as we could to (Coffee with a Cop attendees).”

Willey also emphasized the importance of hiring new officers to the Easton Police Department. The application process and explanation of each key point can be found on YouTube and Facebook and Twitter.

Kahler Stultz, of Denton, attended Coffee with the Cop for the first time, interested in the Easton Police Department application process. He was impressed with the patience and welcome while asking about the application process.

“I learned that they are open to the community, and that they have a lot of transparency, and see how the community feels about certain topics,” said Stultz. “I’ve always had a positive outlook on the police.”

Mayor Bob Willey was also in attendance and is impressed with the reception from the community with the amount of residents going through the library, showing excitement to see the officers. He would like for kids at an early age to learn more about police officers and what they can offer to the community.

“If you look at what is going on with the pre-schoolers coming in, look at the smiles and the participation, it is going to get (EPD) more noticed,” said Mayor Willey. “They are not mean people and they are here to help, and the kids are starting to appreciate it.”

“Coffee with a Cop” is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are held across the country, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.

For more information or to ask about the EPD hiring process, contact Kyle Willey at 410-822-1111 or kwilley@eastonmd.gov.