October 17, 2016

Cop Shop: Cops win raves after outreach to community

By Rose Quinn, Daily Times News
Original article HERE

Last week, it was “Partner Reading with a Cop,” with Collingdale Police Chief Robert Adams front and center for the Oct. 6 debut of the program at the Collingdale Library.

This week, at the Pilgrim Gardens Senior Café in Drexel Hill, it was “Coffee with a Cop” with Upper Darby police officers and Superintendent Michael Chitwood hosting the department’s sixth community social.

Both events are designed to improve community relations, the two top cops said Wednesday. Not only were the programs successful, the chiefs said they had a lot of fun.

“I almost hate to say it, but it was like a love fest,” Chitwood said of the reception they received Wednesday morning from the nearly 40 seniors gathered for the coffee klatch – despite interrupting their weekly pancake and egg breakfast.

Chitwood said he roamed from table to table, and the discussions ranged from their days growing up in Upper Darby and how things have changed, to the great police department in Upper Darby.

“They said they feel safe,” Chitwood said.

Judging by his reading reviews on Facebook, Adams gets an A for effort – and elocution.

“It was great experience,” he said of the new program, sponsored by the police department and the Collingdale Library.

His audience of 15-20 children and about 10 adults listened with rapt attention as he read, “Police Officers on Patrol,” written by Kersten Hamilton and illustrated by R.W. Alley.

Readings are scheduled for the first and third Thursday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the library.

The next reading will be with Officer Patrick Kilroy on Oct. 20.