Dialogue opens with donuts

By Paul Wedding, OA Online
Original article HERE

Odessa Police Department officers filled Doughboy’s Café, 1621 W. 10th St., this morning to grab donuts and coffee and hear concerns from the community.

“We’ve had a huge showing of support,” OPD Spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur said about the event. “It’s important to build a relationship of trust with the community.”

LeSueur said OPD has done similar events in the past like coffee with a cop, and they felt like it was important to start doing events like this again to build support between OPD and the community.

Sgt. David Lara was one of several officers at the event, having breakfast and talking to Odessans. He said there had been a few traffic complaints made but nothing major.

“We’re just seeing if we can help out, and it’s always good to interact with the citizens,” Lara said.

Noe Garcia said he had come out to the event to show his appreciation, as he used to be a member of law enforcement himself.

“I have an appreciation for what they do and want to make sure they know we’re here for them,” Garcia said.

Alma Ramirez, co-owner of Doughboy’s Café with her husband, said her business had previously been a sponsor for an OPD golf tournament and later agreed when OPD asked her to help host this event.

“It’s a way of us giving back to the community and trying to back the blue,” Ramirez said. “I think it’s important we stick together as a community.”