Locals drink coffee with cops

“We train them,” the K-9 officer responded. With toys, a lot of petting and a lot of praise they learn to detect the smells, he said.

“And then they get a rest?” Holmes asked.

Yes, Sass told her. “That’s kind of like their Christmas break.”

“I might become a police officer one day,” Holmes said later. “Because they get to wear cool gadgets, and they save the day like Batman.”

Holmes met Sass at a community event called Coffee with a Cop, where Bismarck Police officers visit with residents at a local coffee joint. On Monday morning, they met at Boneshaker Coffee Co. in north Bismarck. It was the second event hosted by the department.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity to have officers and staff interact with the public,” said Chief Dan Donlin. Often, the public and police only meet during an emergency.

Donlin said he hopes to hold three to four meet and greets yearly. Similar events have taken place around the country since 2011.

The event drew about 20 people, including parents with kids off for President’s Day, aspiring officers, former cops and some other community members.

Alex Sauer, a freshman at Bismarck State College, came to meet people in the department. A criminal justice major, he wants to join the police force when he graduates. Someday, he hopes to become a Bureau of Criminal Investigations agent.

“I would always see cops around town,” Sauer said of the reason behind his career goals. “I want to do something that will help people, help the community.”

He recognizes the job has its dangers, but he thinks it will be worth it to help.

“One day, I could be patrolling. The next day, I could be on a call and end up being shot or killed or something like that. So that does stay in the back of my mind,” Sauer said. “I also think that, hey, I die helping and serving the community of Bismarck.”

Some people met and found something shared in common. A retired safety director overheard a school resource officer talking about his work and could relate since his own son is a school resource officer for a high school in Williston.

Officer Mark Otterness, known to the middle schoolers as Officer Otter, deals with issues such as truancy, social media and some drugs. It’s a job he loves.

“You’re a parent, a teacher, everything,” Otterness said. “You can change that behavior when younger.”