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‘Coffee with a cop’ brings out a crowd
By Stephanie Dolan, The Flyer Group
Original article HERE
This past Saturday morning, the Oasis Diner in Plainfield hosted Coffee with a Cop. Members of the Plainfield Police Department, as well as police commissioners and other town officials, attended for breakfast and a chat with the public.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing for our business and for our community,” Oasis co-owner Don Rector said. “We strongly support our military and our first responders with a discount that we offer on food, whether they’re on duty or not. I’m a reservist with the sheriff’s department myself, so obviously I support the police.”
Rector said the Oasis would gladly welcome future opportunities to hold such events.
“We said we’d love to do it when the department approached us,” he said. “We’d certainly do it again.”
Plainfield Police Chief Darel Krieger added, “We’ve had a great turnout from the town. We have police commissioners here, the town PIO (public information officer), the department PIO and even officers who’ve brought their families. I’ve met several people and talked with them this morning. This is a great start to the summer.”
Krieger said the Oasis is one of the best locations for this kind of event as there was room for visitors to spread out, have breakfast and relax while waiting for a turn to speak with an officer.
“We have to be careful not to choose some place too small,” he said. “Here, there’s plenty of room and it’s one of our better ones for turnout.”
Capt. Jill Lees said she was happy to see people from outside the community coming in to participate as well.
“Some have come in to see certain officers, and another family even made us cookies and brought those in for us,” she said. “It’s open to anyone who wants to come.”
Lees said officers spoke with citizens regarding specific issues having to do with business and security.
“We’ve had an excellent turnout, as far as officers and community,” she said.
Kent Smith of Plainfield recalled years past when officers walked their “beats.”
“You would see the same officers on a regular basis, and you could talk to them,” he said. “This feels similar to that.”
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