Customers enjoy Coffee with a Cop

By Brian Myszkowski, Pocono Record
Original article HERE

Patrons of the McDonald’s on Milford Road got a chance to enjoy a cup of joe, some doughnuts and a side of pleasant conversation with a crew of Pennsylvania State Police Troopers on Tuesday morning.

The East Stroudsburg eatery’s Coffee with a Cop promotion allowed for the public to chat with state law enforcement in a relaxed setting as opposed to an emergency situation, which helps to facilitate a stronger community overall.

“We’ve been very fortunate over the last couple of years to be partnered with McDonald’s,” Troop N’s David L. Peters said. “It was their insight to be more involved with their community, and they wanted to be involved with their law enforcement in the area as well.”

Coffee with a Cop originally launched in Hawthorne, California in 2011, when the officers of the Hawthorne Police Department were searching for ways to better engage with their local citizens. Nowadays, the program has spread to all 50 states, and even into Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and Latin America.

While free coffee and doughnuts may draw people in, connecting with the local law enforcement in a positive and friendly manner is what makes the promotion so successful and worthwhile.

“I feel that the people that have come in today to sit and talk with the cops, they feel more comfortable with them,” McDonald’s general manager Samantha Moyer said. “If they have any questions, if they need any insight on something, they’re getting those answers and seeing that the cops aren’t as bad as social media or the news makes them out to be.”

Hosting the event at McDonald’s also helps strengthen the bond between the police and local establishments, Trooper Billy Jenkins said.

“We try and get as many people as we can to come down so we can interact with the community, as well as promote the business for McDonald’s to show that we have a good relationship with the businesses in the community,” he said.

According to Jenkins, the event is a great opportunity for everyone – police included – to kick back, relax, and enjoy a good conversation.

“We’ve had quite a few people come in; a lot of people are asking general questions. Everybody wants to know about the tickets, if we have a quota. There’s no quota,” Jenkins said with a laugh.

Husband and wife Cornell and Susan Alexander, who have a property in Lake Wallenpaupack, said that they appreciate Coffee with a Cop, as it breaks down the barrier between the public and the police.

“This is very helpful for the community,” Cornell Alexander said. “It shows that these fellas are very practical and knowledgeable, and they’re here to serve the public.”

And while the Alexanders said they never had any issues interacting with law enforcement, it was nice to get to know the local troopers a little better.

“It was very casual, pleasant and warm,” Susan Alexander said. “The policemen were very obliging and pleasant to speak with.”

Peters said the event went off perfectly, and allowed the troopers and citizens to build stronger connections that can help everyone in the community.

“Any time you have the opportunity to meet the people in your community and know what affects them so you can possibly make their lives a little bit better, that’s invaluable to any law enforcement organization,” Peters said.