Coffee with a Cop

By Sarah Luke, Gippsland Times
Original article HERE

The launch of Wellington Police Service Area’s first Coffee with a Cop session was hailed as a success, as a patrons packed out a cafe in Gippsland Centre, Sale, to chat with local police.

Glenn and Wendy Keith from Maffra, who sat down for a coffee with Senior Constable Dan Binotto, said the session was about making connections, after Mr Keith realised went to school with Senior Constable Binotto’s father.

“It allows us to see the human side of them… often, we just see a face behind a car or a camera, we don’t always appreciate their general policing and work in our community,” Mr Keith said.

“It’s also about giving them the confidence to give us a call at anytime, and remind them we are still people we still go home to our families,” Senior Constable Binotto added.

Senior Sergeant Ally Howard said she had spent the morning fielding traffic questions.

“I’m grateful that they’ve raised it, because really, it’s a community safety issue,” she said.

Megan Gotts, who sat down to coffee with Senior Sergeant Howard, discussed a career in the police force. “They’re not as scary as people think,” she laughed.

Organiser Senior Sergeant Mel McLennan said the sessions were aimed at community engagement. The next Coffee with a Cop session will be announced soon, via the Eyewatch Wellington Police Service Area Facebook page.