Community Heroes: Coffee with a Cop

By Lisa Jones, KJRH
Original article HERE

Ever wished you could talk to Tulsa Police, in a relaxed environment, about anything?

Coffee with a Cop makes that possible.

Anytime you see a group of police cars and officers in one location it’s almost always bad news.

But, not this time.

“Have a cup of coffee with them ask them about your particular neighborhood and what’s going on,” McDonald’s Ardis Thompkins said.

There’s at least one McDonald’s in every Tulsa neighborhood, and that’s why the fast food chain thinks their restaurants are the perfect place for residents who live nearby to have a cup of Joe with the men and women who protect them.

Coffee with a cop came to east Tulsa this time and the officers who’ve paroled these streets for years want to get to know everyone who lives nearby.

“I think it’s great for the community to meet the people from the community in a positive setting and just ask them about what’s going on in Tulsa and what they think and they ask us questions,” Tulsa Police Officer John West said.

Officer West has been with TPD for 28 years, but until today he’s never met James Hendrix and Hendrix comes to this McDonald’s with a group of other fellas most every morning.

“We talked about 11th Street and how the culture of 11th Street is changing,” Hendrix said. “I just think it’s good to have activities like this.”

That’s what TPD and McDonald’s are hoping to keep the lines of communication open between officers and those they serve.