Connecting over coffee

By MELISSA ST. AUDE, Casa Grande Dispatch
Original article HERE

Coffee with a CopWhether he’s chatting with drivers at a fast food restaurant drive-through or sipping java with patrons in a coffee shop, Casa Grande Police Officer Thomas Anderson said that visiting with people in the places they do business is one way for the department to be approachable and accessible to the Casa Grande community.

Anderson, the department’s spokesman, was among the officers greeting customers last Friday morning at Starbucks on Florence Boulevard as the department and the nation celebrated National Coffee with a Cop Day.

Several officers with the Casa Grande department were on-hand at the morning event, chatting with customers. They were joined by troopers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

“These events are an opportunity to just talk with the community and let them get to know police officers one-on-one,” Anderson said. “We’re not there with an agenda or to make a presentation. We’re just there to have conversations with people and hear what they have to say.”

Coffee with a Cop was started by the police department in Hawthorne, California, in 2011 in response to tensions between the police and the community, according to a press release from the Casa Grande department.

The program, which features officers inviting residents to join them for a cup of coffee and conversation, was adopted several years ago in Casa Grande.

The program has taken on new importance in recent months as police departments in some other cities have experienced tensions between the community and officers.

Outreach efforts like Coffee with a Cop help Casa Grande minimize tensions and offer an opportunity for residents to address issues or concerns in a friendly, non-intimidating environment, he said.

“Casa Grande is a unique community,” Anderson said. “We have a strong relationship with the community and that comes from good relationships and being transparent and accessible.”

Coffee With a Cop sessions aren’t limited to coffee shops. Anderson has been known to greet people at the drive-through window of some fast food restaurants.

“They pull up to the window and they’re surprised to see me,” he said. “I’ve seen people without their seat belts on and I remind them to buckle up. When we’re at these events, it’s just to chat with people — not to give them tickets. Sometimes they have something on their mind they want to talk about. Sometimes, they just want to talk about the weather or the game.”

The department also coordinates with civic organizations and schools to reach out to the community.

Because officers no longer spend a shift walking a beat and interacting with those they meet along the way — they’re mostly in patrol vehicles now — Anderson said that’s created a barrier between officers and the community in some cities. But while the days of an officer walking a beat are long gone, in Casa Grande they tend to get out of their cars and talk to people. They’re also involved in the community.

“Our officers have strong connections to the community. Many of them grew up here,” Anderson said. “They’re your neighbors, coaches, friends.”

The combination of community outreach and civic involvement, he said, means a department that residents trust.

“We don’t see the tension that other communities have because the community trusts us. I believe it’s partly because of our outreach,” Anderson said. “The community here has our back.”

Coffee with a Cop sessions have also helped the department recruit officers and volunteers.

“Two of our new officers had their first contact with our department through Coffee with a Cop,” Anderson said.

Carol and Gary Bradley, retirees who moved to Casa Grande about 10 years ago, decided to volunteer with the department after meeting a few officers at a Coffee with a Cop event about a year ago.

“We met the officers and were impressed,” Gary said.

They attended a six-week volunteer training program and now work to raise awareness of the department’s emergency alert system for area seniors. They’re also among the volunteers who often attend Coffee with a Cop events, chatting with visitors.

“We like getting out and meeting people,” Carol said.

The Casa Grande Police Department often has several Coffee with a Cop sessions planned each month at various spots in the community. The next one is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at Dunkin’ Donuts, 1306 E. Florence Blvd.

“We encourage anyone to come out and just say ‘hi’ to us at these events,” Anderson said. “We’re open to talking about anything.”