CAERNARVON TWP. POLICE ENGAGE COMMUNITY WITH INAUGURAL COFFEE WITH A COP

By Berks Weekly
Original article HERE

In an effort to improve community engagement, Police in Caernarvon Township hosted a special Coffee with a Cop event on Sunday afternoon in Morgantown. The no speeches, no agenda casual meeting was created by the department as a way to foster positive communication between the public and officers.

The national Coffee with a Cop initiative promotes building trust. Each event is designed to provide the public with opportunities for real conversations about issues that matter. Residents and police officers are encouraged get to know each other and discover mutual goals for the communities they live in and serve.

Held at the Morgantown Coffee House, chef Patrick Daley brewed fresh coffee and delicious food for the event. “It’s good that the community can come out and see the police in a different perspective” says Daley. “I think the idea of community has been lost a little bit, so its really great to learn more about the officers who serve our community.”

For Caernarvon Township Police Chief John Scalia, hosting Coffee with a Cop is all about showing the public his department is human. “I’ve been here 23 years and there are so many new people who have moved into the area” says Scalia. “We want them to get to know us, and know that we’re there for them.”

Looking to the future, Chief Scalia is excited to host more public engagement events like Coffee with a Cop. “I think we’ll do this again. We got a big turn out, it’s laid back and everyone is enjoying themselves.” In addition to conversations with residents, the department also provided free coloring books for kids, stickers, and gun locks.

Local residents Angela Amodeo and Alexis Siriani enjoyed getting to know Chief Scalia and his officers during their afternoon lunch. “We always see them in our development and at community events, its nice to see them trying to reach out to the community” says Amodeo.